Inspiring youth in the art of music making and mariachi culture.
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Mission
Colorado Youth Mariachi Program is on a mission to inspire youth in the art of music making and mariachi culture. We are committed to fostering the appreciation and value of mariachi education in our youth and their family through a quality and accessible music program.
Vision
Our vision and goal is to provide a culturally enriching music program to youth without sacrificing the quality of music education. Through our program activities we hope to encourage music appreciation, and respect of traditional mariachi music in our students, their families and surrounding communities.
Our Story
Inspired by the personal experience of Program Director Isahar Mendez and Musical Director Victor Becerra, the Colorado Youth Mariachi Program (CYMP) was officially launched in 2019 as a 501c3 nonprofit organization after offering free music lessons for three years to family members and friends.
Since its inception, CYMP has remained dedicated to the mission of inspiring youth in the art of music making and mariachi culture. The program is supported by local mariachi musicians and has inspired schools to begin their own programs. We are committed to fostering an appreciation and value of mariachi education among youth and their families through a high quality and accessible music program.
What We Do
CYMP teaches mariachi music to youth between the ages of 7 and 18 years old and conducts performances around their community. Instruction includes lessons in trumpet, violin, guitar, voice, and traditional mariachi instruments vihuela and guitarron. Classes also include the history of mariachi, its culture and performance etiquette. Alongside classes, students have the opportunity to perform for their community at public events and travel to national mariachi workshops and conferences. Instruction is provided by trained music educator and experienced mariachi musicians.
Why Mariachi music?
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Mariachi music has a very rich history within the Latino community. It is an art form which brings people together.
A sustainable and quality music education plays an important role in many students academic careers. Mariachi is respected as a world heritage art form by UNESCO and a powerful tool for academic success. Many schools around the country have seen high academic achievement, rise in student engagement and improved attendance rates from at-risk Hispanic students benefiting from a mariachi program in their schools. Although our program is non curricular, we hope to inspire and support school admins and music teachers to join the mariachi education movement and help make mariachi education sustainable in Colorado.
Board of Directors
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Marialuisa Burgos, President
Ms. Burgos is a Founder of the Latinx Theatre Guild of Colorado and an actor and musician.
Kasey Herndon, Vice President
Ms. Herndon is a pipeline development and database management professional.
Dolores Ramirez, Treasurer
Ms. Ramirez is Vision Director at the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger.
Pamela Virden, Secretary
Ms. Virden is incoming Principal at Kyffin Elementary School in Golden, Colorado.
Dominic F. Martinez
Mr. Martinez is the Assistant Vice Chancellor at the Office of Educational Outreach and Pathway Initiatives and Undocumented Student Services at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Yuzo Nieto
Mr. Nieto is Co-Founding Executive Artistic Director at the Radical Arts Academy Denver and a doctoral candidate at the University of Northern Colorado.