Socorro High School mariachi group recognized in state competition

The Socorro High School mariachi group, Los Gavilanes de Socorro, received a Division 1 superior rating, the highest rating possible, at the 2019 UIL State Mariachi Festival.

The competition took place at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas.

SISD had three of the four mariachi groups in the region to advance to the UIL state competition. Eastlake and Americas high schools also competed in the contest.

“We worked so hard for this and the fact that we finally got it just means the world,” said Nikki Brilliant, student and member of the mariachi group. “Not many schools can say they’re state champs. and for Socorro being one of them, it’s amazing.”

A total of 69 mariachi high school groups from the state competed over the weekend. Los Gavilanes de Socorro were one of 17 Texas schools to earn the superior rating for their performance.

In addition, 15 of the 18 students in the Socorro High School group earned Outstanding Individual Musicianship Awards.

“We have been working for this rating for a long time,” mariachi instructor Roger Rosales said. “We practiced so much, and we were constantly looking at how to get better. There were so many good groups out there, but we were confident that our kids would do very well.”

The group performed two songs; “Gavilanes Popurri,” a song done in the son jalisciense musical style, and “El Rey de Huasteca,” to the style Huapango.

“These were very technical songs,” Rosales said. “They are fast and very hard to play but our kids were prepared. They really deserve this.”

The teams were judged on instrumentation, attire and stage presence. Judges also looked at the bands’ pitch, rhythm and tone.

Socorro High School freshman Joceyln Betancourt won one of the Outstanding Individual Musicianship Awards.

The violin player said she was surprised and honored at their achievement, and it was significant for her as a first-year member of the group.

“It was great to know that the hard work paid off, especially because it is easy to get distracted, but we kept going,” Betancourt said. “Since this is my first year, this is something I will never forget. We learned a lot, like how to support each other.”