Preserving Cultural Roots: Mariachi Education in the Community

This event will feature a concert and conversation by Community Music Center’s Mariachi CMC, a community based ensemble that explores the history and the different musical styles of Mariachi as part of SF Music Week 2026. Mariachi CMC will perform from its repertoire of traditional Mariachi music and instructors, Miguel Govea and Daphne Gonzalez-Cambambia will talk about how they approach teaching specific cultural traditions, work with students of different generations, and engage their students with community celebrations and activities.

Monday February 23, 7pm
CMC's Concert Hall
FREE

San Francisco Music Week celebrates the creativity and diversity of the Bay Area’s vibrant music scene. The week features live performances, pop-ups, and community events at record stores, historic venues, and unexpected spaces across the city. Alongside public celebrations, The Bay Area music community gathers at Professional and Artist Development conferences designed to bring together industry leaders and local talent for panels, workshops, and networking. SF Music Week unites the people and sounds that make the Bay Area pulse. FEB. 23 - MAR 1, 2026

Mariachi CMC

Under the direction of Martha Rodriguez Salazar, this CMC class explores the history and the different musical styles of Mariachi. Students learn how to play and sing rancheras, boleros, huapangos, sones, and polkas as part of an ensemble. All participants are required to sing and play one of any of these instruments: violin, trumpet, guitar, vihuela and guitarrón.

Miguel Govea

Miguel has been a faculty member at Community Music Center (CMC) since 2006, teaching trumpet and diatonic button accordion. He also acts as a CMC teaching artist in the San Francisco Unified School District Mariachi Program. He has also played a major role in teaching and arranging for CMC’s Mission District Young Musicians Program.. He tries to convey a sense of the joy in making music, in continuously learning, and in playing with others.. He has arranged for, performed and recorded with his own bands (Los Compas, La Familia Pena-Govea), and various other groups in San Francisco since 1982.

Daphne Gonzalez-Cambambia

Daphne has been a teaching assistant for the Mariachi CMC ensemble since 2023. She began playing the violin at the age of 9 years old at Buena Vista Horace Mann under the direction of Ariane Cortes. In the fifth grade she joined the SFUSD Mariachi program where she began to learn more about the rich history and musical techniques of mariachi music. Throughout middle school and high school Daphne volunteered her time at Buena Vista Horace Mann leading vocal and violin sectionals and also became a member of Mariachi la Mision. The mariachi participated throughout the Mission District in many community events. Daphne graduated in the summer of 2023 and went on to join an all-female mariachi called Mariachi Femenil Orgullo Mexicano where she continues to learn more about her culture and Mariachi. She has been a student at CMC since she was in 5th grade, studying violin, voice and participating in the Mission District Young Musicians Program. She hopes to continue sharing her expertise with the community where her musical journey started.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Community Music Center