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A Competition to Keep the Musical Tradition of Zarzuela Alive

For musicians, singers, and dancers both professional and amateur as well as all lovers of music and dance.

Zarzuela with Family and Friends was created with the goal of revitalizing the tradition of music and singing in family gatherings and everyday life. Zarzuela is a masterful blend of orchestral music with catchy melodies, rhythms, cadences, and popular musical forms, such as the Habanera Cubana and Tango Argentino or the Seguidilla Manchega, the Jota Aragonesa and the Fandango. This fusion, combined with drama, dance, and singing, has deep roots in Hispanic cultural history, making it one of the most representative expressions of our identity and tradition.

We want to share our rich genre with our families and friends.

Join us and participate!

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?

Step 1

1.Gather your family, friends, cultural association, musical group, or company.

Minimum: 2 people. Maximum: infinite!

Step 2

Choose a Zarzuela piece.

Select any piece from a Zarzuela whether a romanza, duet, choral number, or any other musical or theatrical performance.

Step 3

Rehearse and prepare your performance.

You can sing, dance, play instruments, and/or act. Showcase all your talent!

Step 4

Record a video.

4.Record a video. Capture your performance in HD quality (MP4, horizontal format, no text, max 8 minutes).You can film in your living room, town square, cultural center stage, or any other space that highlights your artistry. At the end of the recording, you may include a brief introduction of your group (maximum 30 seconds).

Step 5

Register and send your video to Zarzuela USA Intl.

Fill out the registration form and submit your video and a picture with all the members of the group or family. Don’t forget to indicate which Zarzuela piece and musical number you are performing!

SELECTION PROCESS

Application limit: 2026

Once the 50-participant limit is reached, an announcement will be made on the Zarzuela USA Intl. website. Participants will also be notified via email or phone. The jury will then deliberate, and the winners will be published on the website within 30 days.
Evaluating jury

Allen Vladimir Gómez

ALLEN VLADIMIR GÓMEZ RUIZ

Director del departamento de desarrollo cultural y artístico de la Secretaría de Cultura del estado de Jalisco, México.

Actualmente compone la opera “Quetzalcoatl” de su autoría y
desde este año 2025 es Director del departamento de desarrollo
cultural y artístico de la Secretaría de Cultura del estado de Jalisco, México.

Fue director musical de Plácido Domingo en el concierto de clausura del Primer Festival Internacional de Zarzuela por el mundo en el 2019 y 2021. Fue fundador y director artístico del Opera Studio Beckmann y del Festival Internacional de Música Virreinal Mexicana y Regularmente Invitado del Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi en las Galas de Orquesta.

Sara Garibay President

Sara Garibay

Founder, Board Member & President

Sara Garibay takes a vision and makes it a reality through hard work, persistence, and dedication. She was immersed in the arts and in fundraising as a child in Guadalajara. Her parents were magnificent hosts of artists and politicians, holding large parties where they raised funds for projects such as the construction of the University Autonoma of Guadalajara. Their most enthusiastic collaborators and friends on this project were Agustín Lara and his wife who spent long periods of time at Sara’s house. Agustín loved Spain and engrained that love in her through his songs and piano compositions. Her father loved opera and gave Sara an appreciation for the art form from a very young age. After studying Journalism at the University Autonoma of Guadalajara, Sara emigrated to the United States and within 2 years developed the news department for KSMS in Salinas, California. As News Director, she was instrumental in making the newscast first per capita in U.S. Spanish-language newscasts. This experience took her to Miami as a producer and reporter for Sabado Gigante were she guided the growth and popularity of the program with Hispanic audiences throughout the United States. This success led to a position as Programming Director for KWHY in Los Angeles. In a short period of time, she led this small Spanish independent station to compete with such giants as Univisión and Telemundo. Although Sara’s professional career gave her a lot of satisfaction, her work as a volunteer has given her much more. Starting at the tender age of 10, she organized a tutoring program in her church for low-income children in a local farm community. Mexico’s Secretary of Public Education recognized these efforts. Her passion to help those less fortunate can be seen with her work at the Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles by helping homeless people, alcoholics, and drug addicts. She was also a pioneer at The Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood, where she organized a fundraising carnival with performances by popular artists. This carnival continues to grow each year. Zarzuela USA is grateful for Sara’s enthusiasm and dedication to fostering the renaissance of Zarzuela in the United States

Federico Figueroa

Federico Figueroa

ARTISTIC ADVISOR

With a very broad vision of the artistic panorama, thanks to his university studies in Industrial Engineering, Architecture and Arts, but above all due to his practice in various parts of the process of creating live shows, he has built a highly prestigious career. As a freelance stage director, from his native Chiapas to stages of Spain, Portugal, Scotland, Andorra, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Peru and United States, where he has staged performances of opera, operetta and zarzuela. He is founder and director of Estudio de Zarzuela and since 2020 he has been artistic director of the Medinaceli Lírico Festival. He is also invited to give lectures and as a jury in international singing competitions. He has staged zarzuelas from the 17th to 21st centuries. This year he has directed the zarzuelas “Dafne y Apolo” in Dallas, “Doña Francisquita” at the La Solana Zarzuela Week, “Jasón o la conquista del Vellocino” and “La corte de Faraón” in several cities in Spain.His next work, under the auspices of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, will be the zarzuela “Veneno de amor es la envidia” (1705), de Sebastián Durón, at the National Auditorium in Madrid.

Estrella Barbero De Malagon

Estrella Barbero De Malagon

ARTISTIC ADVISOR

Hija de padres españoles, desde muy chiquita la zarzuela fue una de sus inclinaciones artísticas, Durante muchos años se presentaron temporadas de Zarzuela por grandes compañías españolas. Debido a los altos costos, éstas dejaron de presentarse dejando un vacío muy grande entre los amantes de este género . Es por ello que en el año 1987 se crea la Fundación Arte Lírico dirigida por Estrella de Malagon. Desde sus inicios en l987 se han llevado a escena las óperas Don Pascual, Carmen (en español), La Traviata (en español) ; las Operetas La Viuda Alegre, La Corte de Faraón, El Conde de Luxemburgo y las Zarzuelas Luisa Fernanda, La Leyenda del Beso, Los Gavilanes, La del Soto del Parral, La del Manojo de Rosas, La Verbena de La Paloma, La Rosa del Azafrán, El Duó de la Africana, La Tabernera del Puerto, Las Leandras, la zarzuela colombiana Reveletorum, las zarzuelas cubanas María La O y Cecilia Valdés y los espectáculos Zarzuela 200 y Sueños Escénicos. Se ha logrado atraer y consolidar un público juvenil, el cual es el futuro cultural de nuestro país ya que a través de este género aprenden a apreciar todas las artes: musicales, escénicas y coreográficas. La Fundación Arte Lírico, al margen de sus presentaciones, realiza durante todo el año la preparación de los miembros que integran el coro estable de la misma, mediante instrucción vocal, escénica y coreográfica, creando una escuela que permita el logro de nuevos valores líricos.

1st Prize

$ 10,000 Dollars
  •  

2st Prize

$ 5,000 Dollars
  •  

3st Prize

$ 2,000 Dollars
  •  

Honorable mention

$ 1,000 Dollars
  •  

Honorable mention

$ 1,000 Dollars
  •  
EVALUATION CRITERIA

The jury will assess originality, creativity, musicality, richness and quality of the proposal, and video quality. We welcome both traditional interpretations and creative adaptations that blend cultural and musical influences.

How to Record a High-Quality Video

for Zarzuela with Family and Friends
Read More
Percentage of Registered Families
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Registration Form

By submitting your video to apply as a candidate for Zarzuela With Family and Friends, you agree that Zarzuela USA International may use your voice and image exclusively for the purpose of promoting the program on our social media and website. Additionally, you waive any claim for payment or royalties associated with this use.

Español English

Francisco J. Jileta Juárez

Honorary Board Member

Interés Cultural y Filantrópico

  • Participación en la publicación de obras de Javier Garabito Tovar y Juan José Doñán Gómez, enfocadas en la poesía, la música y las artes, a través de la Fundación Jileta

Formación Académica

  • Ingeniero Civil por la Universidad de Guadalajara (1974)

  • Licenciatura en Urbanismo por la Université Paris VIII, Vincennes, Francia (1976)

  • Maestría en Urbanismo por la Université Paris VIII, Vincennes, Francia (1978)

  • Programa de Alta Dirección AD-2 en el Instituto Panamericano de Alta Dirección de Empresa (IPADE Business School, 2019)

  • Diversos cursos en el Colegio de Ingenieros Civiles del Estado de Jalisco

Actividades Empresariales Relevantes

  • Desde 1970 se ha dedicado a la explotación forestal sustentable en los estados de Jalisco y Nayarit

  • Ha ejecutado proyectos de construcción y obra civil tanto para el sector público como para el privado

  • Inversionista en empresas del sector inmobiliario, participando en la compra y venta de propiedades comerciales y residenciales

  • Proveedor de insumos diversos para el Departamento del Distrito Federal (1987–1990)

  • Entre 1990 y 1992 llevó a cabo la remodelación y rehabilitación del ingenio azucarero La Purísima en Tecalitlán, Jalisco, así como la construcción de nuevas naves industriales para su operación

  • Propietario de las compañías Great Plains Audio (Oklahoma, EE. UU.) y Troy Audio (Houston, EE. UU.), ambas dedicadas al diseño y fabricación de altavoces de alto desempeño para aplicaciones Hi-Fi

Analía Olivera

adviser

Analía celebrates the heritage of being the fourth generation in her family immersed in music and cultural production, studying at Interlochen National Music Academy Michigan, she joined the National Symphony Orchestra of SODRE Uruguay and the Montevideo Philharmonic Orchestra as a violist player. Participates in the foundation of the Youth Symphony Orchestra “José Artigas” She begins her career as a Cultural Producer becoming the General Manager of the SODRE National Youth Symphony Orchestra producing national official tours and concerts throughout Europe as in the Berlin Philharmonic, in the United States Kennedy Center, National Theaters of Mexico and Panama Analía has been the Institutional Coordinator of the SODRE National Symphony Orchestra, developing institutional strengthening and exchange at national and international level. She is the Institutional Coordinator of the Foundation” Sistema de Orquestas y Coros Infantiles y Juveniles del Uruguay” that has been for more than 20 years accomplishing the statement about” Music as universal right”, making it possible for thousands of children of all across Uruguay to access a Choral and Orchestral training. Also joining the team in Zarzuela USA as the Executive Director.