'Academia' stars perform in free concert today

Today, Exa will feature these three "graduates" from a show that resembles American Idol, where participants perform in front of an audience in live TV and at the end of their performance are confronted by three judges. In the season finale, the public is the one that chooses the winner, like in 'Idol.' The difference between both, is that in "La Academia" (The Academy) contestants stay in a house for months (such as Big Brother) and receive guidance from professors in music, vocalization, acting and other disciplines.

Even though Yahir, Victor or Cynthia were not the winners of their class, they have been some of the most popular graduates from the show and already have contratcts with recording companies to back them up. Yahir's single hit "La Locura" has positioned him in the top ten lists, not only from Exa, but from other radio stations as well. Victor's first album, out of three, "Loco por ti" earned him a gold CD, while his most recent namesake one gave him platinum in sales.

Cynthia's new CD "Soy Cynthia" is also

positioning her as a public's favorite. She has participated in other reality shows such as "Desafio de Estrellas" and was selected by Mexico's second biggest broadcast company, TV Azteca, to sing a theme song for one of its television series. Meanwhile, in this border, Exa offers different promotions for its listeners throughout the year, including presentations of their favorite artists.

The only cost for tickets to concerts really to listen to the station, which programs pop and rock music in Spanish and English. "This is a way of giving back to our audience and show them we appreciate their preference," said Cristy Balderrama "La Papaya" morning show host and spokesperson for the station. "We try to offer things other radio stations don't offer, such as the free concerts, several times in a year.

" Balderrama added that even though today's "Exa Party" will take place in Juárez this time, listeners may expect other concerts to take place here in El Paso in the future. The "Exa Party" will be at the Arriba Chihuahua club, located in the PRONAF zone, and will start at 8 p.m.

(Juárez time). Only people 18 years old and up may attend the concert and tickets are available through the radio station, which is located at 4172 N. Mesa St.

, right before Executive. Exa has stations all over Latin America, in countries such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador and México, among others. The one in El Paso is one of the first radio stations from the Exa chain to cross the border line into the United States.