Mariachi Competition Is Scheduled for Sunday

Hoping to increase the popularity of mariachi music among young people, San Fernando High School will host the free Festival Juvenil del Mariachi competition at 2 p.m. Sunday in its auditorium.

The third of four preliminary competitions for youths 18 and younger, the competition is open to existing mariachi bands affiliated with schools, churches, music schools, nonprofit groups and other community organizations. The final contest will be held Aug. 29 at Benjamin Franklin High School in Los Angeles.

A panel of mariachi musicians, art presenters and Latino community leaders will judge the groups on instrumental and vocal performance, group image, musical selections and overall performance. The competition will be divided into a senior division for high school-age youths and a junior division for those 14 and younger.

Finalists will perform at a junior mariachi showcase concert at Disneyland during Hispanic Culture Month in October.

The competition is sponsored by the McDonald’s Operators’ Assn. of Southern California, which includes more than 550 franchised and company-owned stores in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

Mariachi players who reside in the five-county area can participate in the competition. Entry forms can be obtained by calling Laura Sobrino at (323) 727-0783; or simply show up.

There is no entry fee.