Mariachi music school in Anaheim receives donation from Honda as part of Hispanic Heritage Month
By Rob McMillan
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ANAHEIM, California (KABC) — For nearly 30 years, boys and girls in Orange County have learned the traditions and practiced the sounds of mariachi music, at the Rhythmo Mariachi Academy in Anaheim.
As those students and their parents celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, friends from Helpful Honda of Southern California surprised them with dozens of items, including microphones, speakers, music stands, strings and other equipment.
“We are actually celebrating Hispanic heritage month,” said Monica Noriega, the regional manager for Helpful Honda of Southern California. “We’re giving back to those who are contributing to the communities so that’s why they’re here. We like to help those who are helpful to the community.”
Rhythmo Mariachi Academy was founded in 1996 by Gabriel Zavala, whose son Oliver Zavala currently runs the academy.
“My father has been a musician all his life,” he said. “Through his artistic talents and skills, he wanted to somehow give back to his community because he saw a lot of kids getting into music that he would consider not our music.”
Oliver’s father passed away from complications due to COVID-19. During the pandemic, the academy also struggled.
“We had about 60 students in our heyday, but with the pandemic, basically we started from scratch, we had zero students, and we’re like do we close, do we keep going?” Zavala said.
Today, they have more than two dozen students learning the art of mariachi music. Zavala said the donation from Helpful Honda is even more meaningful as they celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
“This is more about coming to share our culture, share our music, and be part of the great tapestry of what the United States is,” he said.
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