HOUSTON
Students in Texas will soon be able to compete for state bragging rights over who is the best at playing mariachi music.
The University Interscholastic League will in the next school year have mariachi as a category in its music competitions.
The UIL governing board worried about setting a precedent for other, lesser-known types of music. But it thinks mariachi will prove popular among the 500,000 Texas students who take part in music classes.
“The bottom line is, we thought this would have a lot of statewide attractiveness,” said Richard Floyd, the state director of music for UIL.
Officials will meet in mid-February to fine tune guidelines for the new category, which they expect will be especially popular in areas such as the Rio Grande Valley, El Paso and San Antonio.
The UIL’s decision is being welcomed by such students as 13-year-old Alex Solis.
