Mariachi Mestizo is a youth ensemble based in Delano, California, founded by musician and educator Juan Arnoldo Morales to provide accessible, community-based instruction in mariachi music. Over the past 25 years, the group has nurtured multiple generations of musicians, many from farmworker and working-class families across Delano, Wasco, Porterville, and nearby towns. With roots in a small music studio that grew into a full-scale mariachi school, Mariachi Mestizo became a cultural anchor in the region—offering technical training alongside a deep connection to history, identity, and collective memory.

At the heart of the ensemble is the Morales family. Juan Morales developed an educational approach that integrates oral tradition, classical music theory, and performance technique, mentoring students who have gone on to become performers, educators, and cultural advocates in their own right. His daughter, Xóchitl Morales, was among the second generation of students and now helps lead the group, arranging music, directing rehearsals, and guiding new players. For Xóchitl, Mariachi Mestizo is not just a group but a lineage—a multi-generational space where music affirms identity, community, and cultural resilience.

This story draws on the voices of Juan and Xóchitl Morales, highlighting how mariachi has served not only as an artistic practice but as a bridge between generations. Through national performances at venues like Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the Hollywood Bowl, Mariachi Mestizo has carried the sound of the Central Valley far beyond California. Yet its deepest impact remains local: teaching, performing, and building community through music that honors the sacrifices and strengths of those who came before.