Bio

Matthew is a performer and educator whose work bridges performance excellence with cultural advocacy. A graduate of Sonoma State University, he holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education along with a California teaching credential.

Through his work in schools, Matthew has made significant contributions to Mariachi education and performance in Northern California. He founded LBC’s Mariachi Rosas, Northern California's first all-female mariachi ensemble (2024), as well as Maria Carrillo High School’s Mariachi Pumas and the first mariachi class in Santa Rosa City Schools (2022). Under his direction, LBC’s Cantares de Mi Tierra earned first place (2026) and third place (2025) at the California State Fair—marking the first time a Sonoma County mariachi ensemble has placed and won in the competition (2026)—in addition to numerous festival and community performances.

His ensembles have shared the stage with internationally renowned artists such as Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán and Jesse & Joy, and have performed at events hosted by the Mexican Consulate of San Francisco. He has also arranged and performed works for mariachi and symphony orchestra in collaboration with the Bay Philharmonic and the Sonoma State Symphony Orchestra, helping to bridge the gap between these two musical traditions.

Matthew’s musical achievements include recognition in competitions at both domestic and international levels, including the King’s Peak International Music Competition, the Międzynarodowy Konkurs Muzyczny International Competition, the Medici International Music Competition, and the Sonoma State University Concerto Competition. He is the founder of Mariachi Nueva Sangre, an ensemble dedicated to promoting the next generation of musicians and advancing the mariachi tradition.

As a performer, Matthew has appeared throughout the Bay Area with ensembles such as the Santa Rosa Symphony, Big Easy Big Band, Bourbon Street Brass Band, 6th Street Playhouse, Sonoma State University ensembles, and Santa Rosa Junior College, among others.

Currently, Matthew serves as Music Specialist at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, where he directs Mariachi ensembles that continue to inspire young musicians. He is also Adjunct Faculty at Mendocino College, where he is developing the institution’s first Mariachi program.