The Cotulla High School and Frank Newman Middle School mariachi bands have earned additional trophies for their performances at contests across South Texas in April. Attending the Texas Association of Mariachi Educators State Invitational in Bryan on Friday, April 14, the Mariachi Cotuleño came home with a first-place trophy signifying another state mariachi title for schools in Division 3A. The following day, students traveled to the Cottonpicker Mariachi Festival in Robstown, where the 7th and 8th grade bands and vocal competitor Bella Linares performed for judges. All groups earned straight Division 1 ratings of ‘Superior’ from the three judges. The MNS 7th Grade Mariachi Band earned an extra “Best In Show Runner Up” award in the Middle School Non-Varsity division. Linares was the only freshman vocal finalist out of 67 entries, and won the 6th overall vocalist across school divisions 1A to 6A, making her the top freshman vocalist at the Robstown event. “The students did an outstanding job and represented themselves and Cotulla with pride,” Director Francisco Ramirez Jr. said of the performances. He and assistant Elio Ramirez Jr. added thanks to parents and chaperones for helping make the twin contest appearances possible, and the school district administration for its support of the mariachi program.
