Meet Isahar Mendez | Mariachi Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Isahar Mendez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Isahar, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I pursued a career in the arts because of how deeply mariachi music impacted me as a high school student. During some of the darkest times in my life, being part of a mariachi group taught me camaraderie, passion, cultural pride, and discipline. It also opened my eyes to systemic injustices in music education.

All I wanted was to learn music that gave me a sense of purpose, but I couldn’t. I faced limited resources, schools that struggled to keep qualified music teachers, and a deeply rooted cultural messages that told me someone like me wouldn’t make it through college, let alone as a musician.

That experience shaped my purpose: to create the kind of mariachi experience I never had, to be the mariachi teacher that I needed, to be the adult that believed in their students potential. That’s why I’ve made it my life’s mission to open doors in mariachi music for as many young people as possible.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Colorado Youth Mariachi Program (CYMP) is an after-school music program dedicated to high-quality mariachi education. Our mission is to inspire youth in the art of music making and mariachi culture through the preservation of mariachi music while fostering discipline, leadership, and artistic excellence in Denver’s next generation of musicians.

What makes our work truly special is that our curriculum and program are rooted in my own journey—as a youth mariachi student and later as a music educator. My husband and I founded CYMP in 2016 with the vision of creating the kind of program we wished had existed in our youth. Both of us are Mexican immigrants who were first introduced to mariachi through high school music programs. As members of the community we serve, we understand firsthand both the challenges and the impact Latino students face in accessing a meaningful music education.

My experience as a self-taught mariachi musician and trained music educator has been shaped by years of teaching in diverse classroom settings, my formal studies in music education at MSU Denver, and continued professional development through events like Mariachi Spectacular—one of the nation’s premier mariachi conferences. These experiences are brought together to form CYMP’s greatest strength: a culturally responsive pedagogy that effectively engages and inspires Latino youth to become confident, capable musicians.

Since 2016, we have served hundreds of students through our after-school mariachi classes. We are proud to serve as a model program, inspiring and supporting the development of new mariachi initiatives throughout Colorado.

Looking ahead, we envision a future where youth across Colorado have equitable access to authentic mariachi education. We hope students get to experience a musical opportunity that sparks cultural pride, personal growth, and we hope to see a growing movement of mariachi programs in schools and communities. We remain committed to working with passionate young people, helping them excel in their craft, and continuing to uplift the art of mariachi music for generations to come.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would like to see more of Colorado with them as a tourist actually. Even though I grew up in Colorado I feel like I only just started to get to know the area as an adult. I would maybe start by taking guest to local coffee shops like Cafesito or Glissade or my favorite breakfast/dinner spots like Moonlight Diner or Black Bear Diner. I would take them to the hotsprngs up in Glenwood Springs or Pagosa Springs and maybe even to the Casinos in Black Hawk. Honestly; sometimes the best place to be is at home with our entire family over for a tasty carne asada.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My success is truly a reflection of the incredible people who have shared their time, wisdom, and talents with me. I am deeply grateful to have learned from remarkable teachers and mentors over the years, as well as from friends and colleagues. I often seek advice and guidance from a diverse group of people, and it’s through these conversations that my beliefs and values are continually shaped, challenged, and strengthened. Lifelong learning is my greatest strength, and I constantly discover new things about myself—whether through my friends, my students, or even my own child. This is especially true of my husband, Victor, my best friend and partner, who has stood by me and supported me through all my adventures and challenges since the beginning of my career. Thank you.

Website: https://www.coyouthmariachi.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coyouthmariachi/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/colorado-youth-mariachi-program

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CYMariachiProgram/

Other: https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Coyouthmariachiprogram