Over a dozen students from across the Rio Grande Valley are reaching new heights in their musical career.

The students competed with over 400 others nationwide to be one of the semifinalists in the 30th Annual National Mariachi Extravaganza.

Allyson Contador, an 8th grader from Travis Middle School, is one of 10 middle school semifinalists in the competition.

“Knowing that I made it in, allowed me to let myself know that all the hard work and practice that I went through paid off,” Contador said.

The other middle schooler from the Valley competing as a semifinalist is Eva Nava from BL Gray Jr. High School.

Isabel Garza-Johnson, a sophomore from McAllen High School, is one of 18 high school semifinalists in the competition. She said this was her second time trying out. 

“So “I was like, ‘it's OK if I don't make it.’ But then I made it, and I didn’t really expect it,” Garza-Johnson said.

The other 10 semifinalists from the Valley are:

- Jiada Ortiz - Weslaco East School
- Athena Gonzalez - Weslaco High School
- Merari Uribe - Palmview High School
- Valeria Rodriguez - La Joya High School
- Yaritzel Salinas - La Grulla High School
- Michelle Meraz - Rio Grande City High School
- Leylanie Rodriguez - La Grulla High School
- Jose Guerra  - Nikki Rowe High School
- Lorraine Garza - Roma High Schol
- Frida Montelongo- Valley View High School

The 30th Annual National Mariachi Extravaganza runs from Thursday, Dec. 5, through Saturday, Dec. 7.

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