Mariachi High

Gr 6 Up—With the continued success of Glee on Fox TV, interest in performing arts programs in schools has remained high, even in the face of budget cuts in many districts. The students featured in this documentary are from Zapata High in south Texas and passed a high-stakes audition to join the school's prestigious mariachi band. In addition to playing violins, trumpets, and other instruments, several of them are also gifted vocalists who perform impressive solos and group numbers. The film follows a year in the life of this ensemble. Under the direction of Adrian Padilla and aware that outsiders may not expect the group to earn many accolades, these young musicians rehearse hour after hour and enjoy proving their doubters wrong. This fast-paced documentary follows the group's successes and shortcomings at several competitions, and culminates with a performance at the Texas state capital in Austin, where they are publicly recognized for their talents and achievements. Performing arts students will enjoy watching these teens who are so passionate about their music, and Spanish language teachers may find this film useful to teach an important aspect of Hispanic culture.—Bernie Morrissey, The Harker School, San Jose, CA