Auditions for a new mariachi music program for youth will begin Saturday in Salt Lake City.
"This is an after-school program with the best teachers in the valley," said Martha Chavez, coordinator of the mariachi classes for performers age 10 to 21. The program begins on Sept. 20.
"You don't have to be Hispanic to audition," Chavez added, "although we would like to get the Hispanic kids involved. We're hoping this might be an incentive" to encourage Latino youths to stay in school.
Salt Lake Community College is sponsoring the city's first mariachi apprenticeship program, which will include guitar, violin and vocal instruction. Chavez said she is also seeking a mariachi trumpet teacher and a guitarron instructor.
Auditions will begin at 1 p.m. at the south campus, 1575 S. State. For information call the Martha Chavez Performance Academy at 261-4298.