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At Santa Fe High School, students are falling in love with mariachi — and the school is running out of instruments for them to play. Music Teacher David Kwon keeps a "Hall of Fame" on his classroom wall to honor students who participate in music for all four years of high school. This year, a ninth grade violinist named Caylee had a new question for him: “Will you have a mariachi Hall of Fame on the wall?”
That’s how excited she and her classmates are about the school’s first-ever mariachi program. Because the student population is 85% Latino, Mr. Kwon and his colleagues launched the program to help kids connect more deeply with their culture and the school community. The response has been overwhelming; Mr. Kwon notes that “every time we talk about the mariachi band or perform, people go nuts!”
The program is so popular that there aren’t enough instruments for all the kids who want to take part. Terry Dawson, who is the department chair, has loaned his personal instrument to a student so they can take part.
Unfortunately, the lack of equipment is making it difficult for some students to learn. Since 80% of the 1,880 students at Santa Fe High School are economically disadvantaged, they have to rely on the school to provide instruments—and its budget can’t keep up with the demand.
“We were (and still are) borrowing retired trumpets from the band, which just barely function and was honestly holding back my beginning trumpet players,” shared Mr. Kwon. “Then we got enough budget to order one new horn, and when the student got to play it and feel their practice efforts come to life, a huge smile took over his face. I of course know that music education is powerful but there was something magical about that moment.” - Mr. Kwon
To ensure every student has a chance to experience that magic, the rest of the ensemble needs help, too. The program needs trumpets, violins, and guitars so the 20 students expected to join in the fall don’t have to be turned away.
Help kids like Caylee earn their spot in the Santa Fe High School Mariachi Hall of Fame.
DONATE TODAY!
Your donation goes to Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, allowing the foundation to work with the school’s music teacher to purchase the school’s needed instruments. Instruments are then delivered directly to the school.
Every contribution helps! Your generous support will:
*Equip students with high-quality instruments
*Expand access to music education and grow participation
*Inspire creativity, confidence, and success in school and life
How your donation works:
Your cash donation goes directly to Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to help purchase the instruments each school needs at deeply discounted rates (typically one-third of retail price). Instruments are delivered directly to the school; no cash is given to schools. A 5% service fee is retained by JustGiving, and the Foundation retains 10% to cover administrative costs, including school vetting and grant management.
How we select schools:
Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation identifies schools through a combination of outreach and research, focusing on those that meet specific grant eligibility requirements. Once a school is determined to be eligible, the music teacher is invited to complete a detailed grant application and participate in an in-person or virtual site visit. This process helps the Foundation understand the school’s unique needs and ensures that any donation will result in a sustainable, long-term impact on students’ access to music education.
More ways to help:
To spread the word on social media or link to this page in your own fundraising efforts, use the links below! And to learn more about Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation's Adopt A School campaign, visit mhopus.org/adopt-a-school or contact us at info@mhopus.org or 818-762-4328.