“I believe that playing music is a great way to examine and recreate emotion. The goal of all performances is to become technically proficient on our instruments to the point that we can get out of the way of the musical experience and communicate the emotional qualities of our music. The entire process, from learning how to make a sound to rehearsing as an ensemble, should be a fun experience. We work hard in rehearsal so that we can experience the joy of playing music and the sense of accomplishment that comes with mastering a composition. In my experience, a lot of people like to talk about multiculturalism. In my mariachi experiences, we don't talk about being multicultural, we just are multicultural. The opportunity to experience another culture while learning a totally new style of music is an amazing experience."