Judges


Vikki Carr

Vikki Carr
Vikki Carr is one of the best-loved and most accomplished entertainers in the United States, Latin America and Europe. She is approaching the fifth decade of a career in which she has won three Grammy Awards and has released over 60 best-selling recordings. Her Summer Tour of 2006 sold-out shows in the U.S., Mexico ad South America. She has performed for the Queen of England, five United States Presidents, wartime soldiers in Vietnam and sold-out audiences around the world. She has worked in radio, television, film and theater. Her music embraces two languages and she is among the first artists to bridge the cultures of the United States and Latin America, paving the way for many performers today.

John A. Lopez
John A. Lopez is an Associate Professor of Music at Texas State University-San Marcos and serves as the Coordinator of Multicultural Music. Starting with the creation of Salsa del Rio in 1995, the multicultural area has grown to include Mariachi Nueva Generacion, Orquesta del Rio (Salsa Band II), and the newly formed, (Youth) Mariachi Infantil. The total number of students involved in these programs has grown to over 100. He also provides yearly salsa and mariachi opportunities for middle and high school students through the week long multicultural music summer camp held at Texas State University. As a performer, Mr. Lopez is very active in the Salsa Music community playing Latin Percussion with some of the best groups in the Central Texas area. Some of the bands he has played with include La Predilecta, Naningo, Tony Guerrero, Orquesta Tradicion, El Tumbao, Mochate, and Son Playado. He also serves as Music Director for The Mambo Kings of San Antonio.

Manuel Vargas
Basado en San Antonio, Texas y bajo la dirección de Manuel Vargas el Mariachi Sangre Mexicana busca ofrecer un sonido auténtico y lleno de sentimiento.

Manuel Vargas es de los pocos interpretes de la música mexicana en los Estados Unidos que puede llamarle hogar a la cuna del mariachi y decirle escuela al mejor mariachi del mundo.

Manuel ha pisado los más grandes escenarios, ha tocado con los grandes, es parte de los grandes artistas y tiene los reconocimientos para respaldarlo.

Ninguna otra música tiene la misma carga emotiva, ningún otro mariachi lo trasmite igual. Contrate al Mariachi Sangre Mexicana para su próximo evento y compruébelo por usted mismo.

Mark Purnell
“Music is life and drums are the heartbeat!”
Mark is an accomplished percussionist and long time supporter of Music in the Schools. Starting in the 6th grade in Hawaii, Mark begin playing percussion and during middle school transferred over to the trumpet and quickly moved up to 2nd chair in competition band and made all-city. Knowing his true love was the percussion side of band performances, he came home the the drums. Playing as lead snare in his High School drumline during his 4 years there; to bells, Xylophone in competitions in state venues but also Xylophone in DCI. After joining the military, Mark continued to play during his service to our country and during his time in the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team. Mark has worked in TV and radio; he currently owns his own PR/Marketing company but has performed throughtout the world and feels that music IS life and Drums are the heartbeat.
Share MITS
[Facebook] [Google] [MySpace] [Twitter] More »