San Marcos Record, San Marcos, TX

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  • Frank DeLeon’s 11 intermediate level Mariachi students will be in Disney World this weekend performing at the annual Music Fest. The San Marcos Mariachi Academy Is also the subject of a documentary yet to be released.

    Mariachi Group
May 31, 2007

Mariachis in the making

Students to perform at Disney World; documentary on the horizon

By Jeff Walker

San Marcos — At their rehearsal on Tuesday night, the 11 intermediate level San Marcos Mariachi Academy students were more quiet and focused than director Frank DeLeon can remember.

After weeks of excitement and nervous energy, they knew it was go-time.

The students are en-route today to Walt Disney World in Orlando to perform at the theme park’s annual Music Fest. They will perform alongside other mariachi students around the country, as well as jazz and orchestra groups.

DeLeon, the founder of the San Marcos program entering its third year this September, says that the kids “went nuts” when he first told them about the trip.

“It’s a nice stepping stone for us,” DeLeon said. “Last year we went to Dallas, and that was great for our first year. This year we’re going to Disney World. We talked about it, and decided that we wanted to expose the kids to different places. And eventually we’ll take it to even greater things.”

The academy received the invitation from Mack Ruiz, a member of the famed Mariachi Cobre group based in Orlando. DeLeon has known Ruiz for several years, and has been a contact person for Ruiz’s upcoming book, a guidebook for Mariachi directors.

At the competition, the group will play three songs, exploring four different styles of Mariachi. And much to the thrill of DeLeon, leading off with a vocal interlude that includes three-part harmony.

“I can tell you because I’ve been around kids this age for years. The kids at this can rarely sing in three-part harmonies, and my kids can. At a rehearsal recently, I was just like wow, I can’t believe that these kids can do it. I’m so proud of them.”

And the exposure they’ll get at Disney World is just the beginning. An Austin-based film group has recently completed filming the mariachi students for an upcoming documentary. The film is likely to be modeled after child-based documentaries like “Spell Bound” and “Mad Hot Ballroom.”

“FOX news in Austin did a story on us, and the next week I got a call from a lady named Linnea Toney. She told me she had a production company and they were very interested in doing a documentary on us,” DeLeon said.

The crew met with the kids in early September, got to know them all well, and began filming soon after.

They filmed weekly rehearsals and even followed some of the students into their homes, getting to know the families of the children as well.

“After a while, the students never knew they (film crew) were there. They would argue with me, all the normal things they like to do,” DeLeon said. “The film crew just became flies on the wall.”

The film is currently in the editing process, and a definite release date has not been set.

And as the exposure continues to come — whether that be in a film or from a Disney World audience — DeLeon wants his students to know that when it comes to the Mariachi Academy here, it’s not just music they’re picking up.

“If you develop a passion for something, then that’s the ultimate way to live life,” DeLeon said. “I am teaching them music, but that’s not what I want them to take away. I’m teaching them culture, but I want them to take away the ability to have a passion for something. If they get that, then they’ll spread it.”

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Mariachis in the making
by By Jeff Walker , , Thu May 31, 2007, 10:41 AM CDT
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