Monthly Archives: October 2013

Mariachi Corazón de San Antonio Festival

Published October 26, 2013 | By Eddie Sandoval

Conservancy (MPC) welcomes you to Main Plaza, the “heart of the city”, on Saturday, October 26, 2013 from noon to 10:00pm for a day of fun, music and competition ft. MS. VIKKI CARR!This 2nd annual celebration will showcase a mariachi competition between area schools competing for the cash prize of $1,500 and the designation Best High School Level Mariachi in the San Antonio Area. MPC’s added component to this festival is the opportunity for a select group of students to continue past this event to become a member of the All-Star, Mariachi Corazón de San Antonio ensemble. This group of “the best of the best” will be groomed to be ambassadors for MPC, the City of San Antonio, and Bexar County.

How better to bring an awareness of family and community combined with history and heritage than by showcasing San Antonio’s finest resources, its youth and great Mariachi tradition!

Students selected for the Mariachi Corazon de San Antonio All-Star ensemble will study under the direction of Dr. Rachel Yvonne Cruz, who with an award-winning history in mariachi as well as academe, being a founder in the creation of the first Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with a Specialization in Mariachi performance and pedagogy, will team with Main Plaza Conservancy to facilitate a smooth transition for these individuals into colleges and universities as well as receiving an earned scholarship from MPC. Judging will be by a panel of five (5) professional musicians with a vested interest in mariachi education to ensure integrity of scoring in regard to musicianship, technique and style.

This event will showcase area talent to include school mariachi groups throughout the day followed by the evening competition and recognition. Additionally, the 1st year graduating Mariachi Corazon de San Antonio students will be presented with their scholarship recognition announcing to the world, that 100% of those graduating from this ensemble have transitioned into a college or university.

And finally, MPC will present its second “Lifetime Achievement Award” to an individual deserving of special recognition for their dedication to music and in preserving the mariachi tradition through its music and education.
Winner of the 2012 high school competition: Brackenridge High School

Named the “BEST HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL MARIACHI IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA”

Main Plaza Conservancy is pleased to announce the winners of the All-Star competition and now featured members of the “official” MPC Mariachi, “Mariachi Corazón de San Antonio”:

Nizhoni Begay Incarnate Word High School

Oscar Garza Brackenridge High School

Armando Herrara Brackenridge High School

Roberto R. Guardiola Fox Tech High School

Alejandro Cerrillo Southwest High School

Marissa Arevalo Jefferson High School

Ruby Chapa Fox Tech High School

Alejandra Pena Fox Tech High School

Medardo Garcia Fox Tech High School

Francisco Yebra, Jr. Holmes High School

Juan A. Lopez Lanier High School

John Nieto, Jr. Brackenridge High School

Chris Herrera South San High School

Madison Garcia Holmes High School

Salvador Sandoval Southwest High Scho

Ricardo Valdez Southwest High School

Raul Palomar Fox Tech High School

CONGRATULATIONS STUDENTS AND CONGRATULATIONS SCHOOLS!!

Below: Mariachi Corazón de San Antonio

Below: Alfredo Flores, Gini Garcia, Jane Pauley-Flores, John Nieto, Dr. Rachel Cruz

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For more information call 210-225-9800, visit www.mainplaza.org

MISSION: Main Plaza Conservancy, a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization, is dedicated to providing San Antonio and its visitors with the cultural and historical “heart of the city”, bringing an awareness of family and community combined with history and heritage.

This is a preview of Mariachi Corazón de San Antonio Festival. Read the full post (610 words, 5 images, estimated 2:26 mins reading time)

Posted in Music review

33rd Annual Tejano Music Awards Winners

Published October 15, 2013 | By Eddie Sandoval

Saturday 10-19-2013 @ 11:45 P.M.

Congratulations to the WINNERS of the 33rd Annual Tejano Music Awards

Song of Year/Artist/Group

Mi Mundo Se Acabo – Siggno

Male Vocalist of the Year

Ricky Valenz

Female Vocalist of the Year

Elida Reyna

Entertainer of the Year

Jesse Turner

Album of the Year – Tejano

Contigo Descubri – Elida Reyna y Avante

Album of the Year – Conjunto

Back on Track – Los Hermanos Farias

Album of the Year – Norteño

This is a preview of 33rd Annual Tejano Music Awards Winners. Read the full post (1134 words, estimated 4:32 mins reading time)

Posted in Art, Celebrities, Education, Music review, People, Religion, San Antonio

BACKSTAGE WITH THE ZOMBIES

Published October 12, 2013 | By RiverCityAttractions

By Tess DeFlori

Beware! Zombies seem to be everywhere. You see them in the movies, commercials, video games, Halloween costumes and even reportedly at the Alamo! Do I have your attention now? Well then, let me explain. I recently returned from another one of my great Rock-n-Roll adventures with the British invasion of the 1960’s, THE ZOMBIES, one of the most underrated rock bands of that era.

This is a preview of BACKSTAGE WITH THE ZOMBIES. Read the full post (1576 words, 2 images, estimated 6:18 mins reading time)

Posted in Celebrities, Film/Movies, Music review, People, San Antonio

Noé Benitez’s “Subele” Chosen for High School Marching Bands

Published October 11, 2013 | By RiverCityAttractions

Photo by Ramón Hernández

Songwriter-musician Noé A. Benitez recently teamed with a group of Tejano living legends to take Tejano music to high school students through “Subele,” a tune that he wrote and was commissioned to arrange for marching bands.

The tune, which was originally recorded by Hugo Guerrero and also featured Rubén Ramos, Vick Nash and Wild Bill Perkins, became a hit and is now being performed by over 25 marching bands across Texas.

This is a preview of Noé Benitez’s “Subele” Chosen for High School Marching Bands. Read the full post (729 words, 2 images, estimated 2:55 mins reading time)

Posted in Celebrities, Education, Music review, People, San Antonio | Tagged Noé A. Benitez

It’s Grand Parent’s Day @ Pre-K for 4 SA

Published October 2, 2013 | By RiverCityAttractions

It’s Grand Parent’s Day @ Pre-K for 4 SA north side education center.

To see the excitement on your grandchild eyes: it’s priceless.

The simple act of making a hand print or reading a story makes their day. Looking around I saw nothing but smiles, not only on the kids, but the grand parents as well.

From my experience from my grandchild, learning to tell the difference of shapes to counting numbers. This was an opportunity to see firsthand, the wonderful way San Antonio newest program at work. It’s giving our youngest a great head start on the road of education.

This is a preview of It’s Grand Parent’s Day @ Pre-K for 4 SA. Read the full post (183 words, 1 image, estimated 44 secs reading time)

Posted in Education, People, Politics, San Antonio