• · Start Date: August 21st
• · Hosts: Rafael Araneda and Bibi Gaytán
• · Judges: Lola Cortés, Arturo López Gavito and Chacho Gaytá
• · Academy Director: Eduardo Capetillo

Across the United States, Mexico, and Latin America, a total of 427,921 aspiring musical stars between the ages of 15 and 40 auditioned for their chance to appear in La Academia 2011. Azteca America will have a presence in La Academia 2011 with contestants representing the United States as they strive to become the next international musical sensation. On August 21, watch the Impressive Premiere of La Academia 2011! August 8, 2011, Los Angeles, CA – Azteca America brings back the most important musical platform in the Spanish-speaking world: La Academia 2011 on Sunday, August 21, after a spectacular four-month-long casting call that concluded last week in Mexico City after testing 427, 921 young musicians. Azteca America was in charge of the U.S. casting in Oklahoma, Dallas, San Antonio, Chicago, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Houston, Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York where the common denominator was the talent displayed by Latin youth working to achieve their dream. In Mexico, Central and South America, the auditions broke all records. In Mexico City alone, over 20,000 people waited in long lines for their chance to audition. The excitement over being a part of La Academia 2011 even reached the Internet, where over 65,000 auditions were received and considered by a qualifying committee and voted upon by the public. Back by popular demand, the charismatic Rafael Araneda returns as host of La Academia 2011 and is accompanied by the talented international star Bibi Gaytán who will share her experiences and stories from her career in show business with the student contestants in the most important school for music, singing and dancing in Latin America. Musical great Lola Cortés will continue with La Academia, this time joining the fearsome “Iron Judge” Arturo López Gavito and the talented Chacho Gaytán on the judges’ panel. This season of La Academia 2011 will have as its headmaster the talented singer and telenovela actor Eduardo Capetillo, who will add his own special touch as he leads the academy, drawing on his vast experience. La Academia 2011 is a production that promotes positive values such as self-improvement, honesty, hard work, and healthy competition. Scores of talented singers have trained here including the chart-topping Yuridia, the talented singer Yahir, the beautiful and charming Cynthia Rodríguez, the Grammy-nominated Nadia (for Best Regional Mexican Album), as well as Giovanna, Esmeralda Ugalde, and Erasmo Catarino, among others.