Corrido at the Poetry Center

2011-2012 Corrido Contest Results

Congratulations to our three Corrido Contest finalists and honorable
mentions. This year, the Corrido Contest was judged by Eduardo C. Corral,
winner of the 2011 Yale Series of Younger Poets.

A Note From the Judge

"I want to express my gratitude to all the writers who submitted work. It was an honor and a pleasure to read the submissions.
 
These corridos remind me how elastic and vital the corrido still is: I read elegiac corridos about family members and historical figures, I read topical corridos about Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and undocumented men and women, I read humorous corridos about Tim Tebow and pets with quirky names. The range of subject matter corresponded with an emotional range that surprised me. It’s a cliché to say this but it’s the truth: I cried and I laughed. And in-between my tears and laughter, I marveled at the inventive use of rhyme, the fresh imagery, and the effortless use of code-switching.
 
The three winning corridos took risks. Emotional and intellectual risks. I returned to them again and again. The author of “Corrido Terminado” wrote a corrido that risks becoming a one-trick pony. The deadpan rhyming and the unadorned diction undercuts the jokey nature of the corrido. The author of “El Corrido de mi Nana” wrote a corrido that risks sentimentally. The concise quatrains and the resourceful use of syntax help control the grief that could’ve overwhelmed the corrido. The author of “Blanca” wrote a risky ending, which is so unexpected and memorable that it could’ve overshadowed the rest of the corrido. But the tightly-crafted quatrains infuse the whole narrative with a wonderful musicality."
 
Eduardo C. Corral
 

First place: Getsemany Miranda De La Cruz, "Blanca," Nogales High School
Second place: Ramon (R.J.) Mendoza, "El Corrido de Mi Nana," Peoria High
School
Third place: Jamie Navarrete, "Corrido Terminado," Nogales High School

Honorable Mentions:
Allison Ford, "Rose Elizabeth Bird," Benson High School
Joey Simpson, "Grandpa," Benson High School
Steven Mabante, "El Sueño de Pedrito," Rio Rico High School

And congratulations to our fifty Semi-Finalists from Miami High School,
San Miguel High School, Marana High School, Desert View High School, San
Manuel High School, Douglas High School, Benson High School, Rio Rico High
School, Nogales High School, and Tucson International Academy.

This year, the Poetry Center received a record-breaking 400 Corrido
submissions! According to Gail Browne, Executive Director of the
University of Arizona Poetry Center, "We're so delighted that so many
schools and students throughout Arizona are represented in this year's
contest." Thanks to all the students who submitted and all the teachers
for their encouragement and support. Also, special thanks to our sponsors
of this year's Corrido Contest: TCI Wealth Advisors.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for The Corrido Concert and Awards
Ceremony on Saturday, April 28th at 11:30 a.m. at the University of
Arizona Poetry Center. Our three winners' poems will be set to music by
musician Daniel Mendoza. Hope to see you there!

Bilingual Corrido Contest For High School Students

The corrido is a musical ballad form developed in Mexico in the 1800s and originally sung throughout the country. Although still popular in Mexico, over time it became known as “musica de la frontera” (border music) because it was especially popular along both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

This contest for high school students encourages historical and cultural awareness and provides students with a vehicle to express themselves. All Arizona high school students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to apply by writing corridos in Spanish and/or English.  For resources on teaching corrido in the classroom, visit our Teaching Corrido page.

 

For more information contact the Poetry Center at poetry@email.arizona.edu or (520) 626-3765. 

Arizona Board of Regents