LBC’s Mariachi Ensemble serves over 120 students with much more than music

2023 LBC Summer Camp

LBC’s Mariachi Ensemble is a year-round program serving over 120 students focusing on much more than music. Led by LBC’s Music Specialist, Matthew Isais Bowker, students learn critical social and emotional skills including perseverance, leadership, cooperation, and collaboration in addition to technique, musicianship, and stage presence through the lens of mariachi. Participants, who range in age from 10 – 20, come from communities around Sonoma County including Cloverdale, Sebastopol, Santa Rosa, and Rohnert Park.

Students participate in one of the Center’s annual three-week Mariachi Camps prior to becoming part of the year-round program and join one of three levels of classes: Beginning, Intermediate, or Advanced. Students must maintain a ‘B’ average at school, attend weekly classes, and complete assignments regularly. The no-cost program provides all supplies needed, including the use of an instrument. We would like to give special thanks to the student’s families for their continued support and commitment to their student’s musical journey.

(Pictured: left, Jazmine Cruz; right, Juliana Avalos)