Central California Alliance for the Preservation of Mariachi
Mexican mariachi
The Central California Association for the Preservation of Mariachi (CCAPM) was organized in 2002 to preserve, enhance, support, and share the beauty of traditional Mexican mariachi music. Under the leadership of mariachi tradition bearer and expert educator Juan Morales, this group of mariachi enthusiasts work to bring professional mariachi musicians to teach youth at all levels in Delano Union School District’s after-school mariachi program. CCAPM also organizes community events, giving Kern County’s six youth mariachi ensembles the experience of public performance.
CCAPM received a grant from ACTA’s Living Cultures Grants Program in 2011 to support a collaboration with master mariachi trumpet musician Gustavo Rodriguez. Over the 10 months of his residency, Mr. Rodriquez instructed an additional trumpet class for students and recorded a mariachi music album with the students of the City of Delano.
In 2004, participation in ACTA’s Traditional Arts Development Program provided CCAPM with consultancies with renowned musician Natividad Cano and Juan Morales to develop plans for artistic development workshops for CCAPM’s Honors Mariachi Program. Nati Cano and Juan Morales will plan the class content, class materials, music, preparation, and specific outcomes expected of students, as well as documentation and preservation of workshop materials