Rooted in Culture, Driven by Community
The Silicon Valley Mariachi Foundation was born from a simple belief: every child deserves access to music education that reflects their cultural heritage and unlocks their potential.
Our Mission
Our goal is to provide school districts and non-profit organizations the support needed to implement mariachi music education and ensure that every child, irrespective of economic barriers or background, is afforded the opportunity to learn, grow, and discover their unique potential. We believe that music education can help children develop social and emotional skills, improve academic performance, and provide a sense of community and cultural identity.
Our Vision
We strive to make mariachi music education accessible to all students across Silicon Valley, ensuring that financial barriers never prevent a child from discovering their potential through music. Together, we build bridges between cultures and generations through shared artistic expression.
Through our initiatives, we work towards breaking down the financial and cultural barriers that prevent children from accessing the mariachi music education they deserve. Our programs include instrument donations, teacher training, and curriculum development. We also organize community events and performances to showcase the talents of our students and promote mariachi music in the community.
10 Years
Enriching lives through music and cultural education
From a Single Classroom to a Movement
Growing up in East San Jose, California, I was the first and only musician in my family. At just eight years old, my life changed when my mother enrolled me in the free mariachi program offered through the Alum Rock School District at Miller Elementary School. That opportunity opened the door to a world of music, culture, and community that would shape the rest of my life.
What began as childhood curiosity quickly became a lifelong passion. Years later, at the age of 22, I was given the opportunity to return to the classroom as a mariachi trumpet instructor—the very type of program that once inspired me as a student.
In 2014, I co-founded the Mariachi Academy of Music, launching our first session with just eight students at the Gilroy Center for the Arts. Within a week, word spread quickly and enrollment grew to over forty students. As the program continued to expand, we began offering classes throughout the Bay Area, partnering with schools and organizations such as Rocketship Charter Schools, Pleasanton Unified School District, Castro Valley Unified School District, Sherman Oaks Elementary, Cesar Chavez Middle School in Union City, and South Valley Middle School in Gilroy.
Today, I serve as the founder and director of the Silicon Valley Mariachi Foundation, an organization dedicated to expanding access to mariachi education and celebrating the rich cultural traditions of our community.
The free mariachi program that I joined as a child changed the trajectory of my life. Through the work of the Foundation and events like the Silicon Valley Mariachi Festival, my mission is to ensure that the next generation of students has the same opportunity—a chance to discover their voice, connect with their heritage, and share their artistry with the world.
What Guides Us
Cultural Pride
We celebrate and preserve the mariachi tradition as a powerful vehicle for cultural identity and intergenerational connection.
Educational Excellence
Our programs are rooted in rigorous music pedagogy, blending traditional mariachi techniques with modern instructional best practices.
Community First
We serve where the need is greatest partnering with schools, community centers, and families across the Valley.
Student Empowerment
Music is the vehicle. Confidence, discipline, teamwork, and leadership are the destination for every student we serve.
Meet Our Team
Led by professional mariachi educators and experienced nonprofit leaders.
Jorge Rodriguez
Founder & Artistic Director
A professional mariachi musician with 25+ years of performance and education experience. Jorge founded SVMF after seeing the need for culturally responsive arts programming in San José's underserved communities.
Francis Vargas
Volunteer Lead
With a passion for community engagement and volunteer coordination, Francis leads the Foundation's volunteer initiatives and grassroots community mobilization efforts.
Miguel Chavez
Site Director
A dedicated educator and community leader, Miguel oversees program operations across our regional sites and ensures quality instruction at every location.
Gabriela Sepulveda
Teaching Artist
A passionate mariachi instructor and performer dedicated to inspiring the next generation of musicians through culturally responsive music education.
Patrick Molina
Curriculum Consultant
An experienced educational consultant specializing in music pedagogy, Patrick develops innovative curriculum frameworks that align mariachi education with academic standards and student outcomes.
Join Our Mission
Whether you donate, volunteer, or simply spread the word — you help keep the music alive.