Gideon Perkins is 1 of 9 college students nationally to qualify for the Mariachi Extravaganza National Vocal Competition in Las Vegas

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas —  A Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi student is hoping to bring South Texas mariachi tradition to a national stage — but first he needs community support to get there.

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Gideon Perkins has qualified as one of just nine college finalists in the Mariachi Extravaganza National Vocal Competition in Las Vegas, a major showcase for mariachi performers from across the country scheduled for March 28. 

Perkins, who now performs locally and studies at TAMU-CC, said the opportunity could mark an important step in his musical journey.

“I don’t see myself ever stopping mariachi,” Perkins said. “This is definitely something that I want to pursue for the rest of my life.”

Music is often called a universal language — a phrase that rings especially true for Perkins.

Although he performs traditional Spanish-language songs, Perkins said he is not fully fluent in Spanish and grew up in an English-speaking household, something that has pushed him to work harder on mastering the music.

“Honestly, it often works in my favor, because I’m able to surprise people and show them the work that I’ve put in and the amount of care and detail that I give to this music,” Perkins said.

Perkins first discovered mariachi after his family moved to Harlingen. His high school orchestra director encouraged him to audition for the Rio Grande Valley’s All-Region Mariachi ensemble — an experience that helped shape his musical path.

The first year he auditioned, Perkins narrowly missed making the group.

“The first year I tried out, I actually didn’t make it,” he said. “I made first alternate, which means if someone gets sick they’ll bump you up. Sure enough, that actually happened.”

When he was called up to perform in a concert in Weslaco, Perkins said the experience cemented his love for mariachi.

“Ever since then, I’ve just kept at it,” he said.

His talent also stood out to fellow musicians.

Edmundo Leal, Perkins’ bandmate in Mariachi Mexicanismo, said he was immediately impressed when they met at Del Mar College.

“I just saw this young and hungry musician, full of life and full of talent and knowledge,” Leal said. “I wish I had half the talent he had and knowledge he has at his age. It took me years to get that.”

Now Perkins hopes to represent Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend at the national competition in Las Vegas.

He said the performance would be an opportunity to highlight the region’s mariachi heritage on a larger stage.

“Texas obviously is a huge place for mariachi, but sometimes Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend get overlooked a little bit,” Perkins said. “This is a chance to show that this is an important area with mariachi and history too.”