How long have you worked here? I’ve worked here at Pasco High for 8 years.

What do you do here at Pasco High? I teach music, Guitar, and Mariachi Ensemble.

What made you want to teach music? I started playing music, and I wanted to give back. I’ve always wanted to do something music-related. I’ve taught since I was a teenager and began at national Conferences.

What are some current hobbies? Are you in any musical groups outside of school? I perform outside of school with my own group that I direct. I collaborate and travel with other musicians such as Lupita Infante, Shaila Durcal, and even Luis Miguel.

Where did you grow up? What schools did you go to? I’m from Santa Ana, California. I went to Wenatchee High and Central Washington University.

How many instruments do you know how to play? I play all the mariachi instruments: the Vihuela, Guitarron, Guitar, Trumpet, and Violin.

What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in high school? I read the Dictionary for fun.

What did you dream of growing up? Did you always want to teach? I dreamed of doing music, whether it was teaching or performing. Whenever I played music, it always felt like home, and luckily for me, I landed both teaching and performing.

What were you like as a teenager? As a teenager, I liked hanging out with my friends and family. I liked playing music. I wasn’t too big about big crowds, even though I was always performing in front of said big crowds.

If someone wanted to start learning an instrument, how would you advise them to start? Would you offer help? Yeah definitely. When I was younger, I always asked questions about music out of curiosity. I would buy books about music composition or theory, so I would advise the same or try to point them in the same direction to learn it, like at local music stores, where you can find instructors or other musicians who could help you out. YouTube also has good tutorials, this is all also aside from joining my guitar class or Intro to Mariachi.