California is blessed with a richly diverse population, with Hispanics making up over 40% of the state’s residents. Yet, when we examine the current landscape of music educators across the state, we see a stark contrast—Hispanic representation in music education remains disproportionately low.
Why does this gap exist? The answers are complex. Some barriers can be addressed through relatively minor adjustments in our systems, while others require bold, systemic change.
Join our panel of Hispanic music educators as we share our lived experiences, explore the challenges and opportunities within the field, and offer actionable strategies to inspire and support your Hispanic students in seeing music education as a path open to them. Together, we can cultivate a future in which our music classrooms reflect the vibrant diversity of our communities.
Target Audience
All Music Educators and College Music teaching and Learning Majors
Additional Notes
Clinician Info
Phil Vallejo
Marshall University
With nearly 20 years of public school teaching experience, Phil Vallejo is a music educator that finds inspiration serving his students, community and music education as a whole.
Phil is proud to serve as the Director of Bands at Marshall University in Huntington, WV. Prior to his arrival at Marshall University, he served as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at Oklahoma State University.
Phil holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from Arizona State University, as well as both a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education, and a Master of Arts Degree in Music Performance (Conducting), both from California State University, Fresno. Throughout his undergraduate and graduate degrees, Phil was blessed with great teachers and mentors such as Gary Gilroy, Jason Caslor, Lawrence Sutherland, Jamal Duncan, James Hudson, and Matt Darling.
He has also been a volunteer for the California Band Directors Association and is currently serving as the Immediate Past President for CBDA. Prior to this, he served as the President from 2018-2020 and before that was the conference coordinator for California All State Music Educators Conference (CASMEC). During this time, Phil Vallejo and Jeff Detlefsen were responsible for overseeing all aspects of the student and attendee experience.
Phil is committed to promoting new music and has been a member of consortiums with Brett Abigaña, Steven Bryant, Katajh Copley, James David, Kevin Day, Marie Douglas, Arturo Márquez, Vince Oliver, Tyler Ono, Nicole Piunno, Shruthi Rajasekar, David Reeves, Jonathan Russell, Giovanni Santos, Elena Specht, and James Syler.
In his spare time, Phil enjoys hanging out with his wife Courtney and their three beautiful children, as well as playing basketball.
Antonio Castro
Antonio Castro is currently the director of instrumental music at Schurr High School, a position he has had for 20+ years. While his responsibilities as director does keep him busy he is also on the part time faculty at California State University, Los Angeles where he teaches a Marching Band Techniques course. He attended Pasadena City College and continued his education at Cal State LA where he earned degrees in Music Education and Wind Conducting.
He is also on the instructional staff for the Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band, a position he has had for over 24 years. He was on the brass staff with the Santa Clara Vanguard, and Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps respectively. He lives with his wife, Lynn, and daughter, Noelani in Monterey Park, California.
Jazareth Valencia
Jazareth Valencia is currently in her fifth year as one of the band directors at Lincoln High School. She co-teaches the concert band, symphonic band, marching band, and AP Music Theory. Jazareth is also the band director at Lincoln Elementary. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in music and teaching credential from California State University, Stanislaus. Studying clarinet under Joshua Jensen, Jazareth performed with the Stanislaus State Wind Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra. Currently, she is working towards a Master of Music in Music Education from American Band College of Central Washington University.
Since joining the staff at Lincoln High School, Jazareth has conducted the Symphonic Band in the Kennedy Center for the Arts and Carnegie Hall. Both the symphonic and concert bands have consistently received excellent and superior ratings at local festivals and concert competitions. Jazareth also helped expand the marching band program to include a field show component to their long standing tradition of parades. For both the fall and winter marching programs, Jazareth is a co-designer and drill writer for Lincoln.
In 2023, Jazareth was named the Northern California Band Association’s Young Band Director of the Year. She also is actively involved with the All-Northern High School Honor Band as the Band Manager. Jazareth is currently a board member for both the Northern California Band Association and the California Band Directors Association as a liaison between the two organizations. In addition, she holds the position of secretary for CBDA. As of 2025, she is serving as VP of High School Honor Band for San Joaquin county.
Ruben Modesto
Ruben Modesto, Jr. is the Director of Bands at John H. Pitman High School in Turlock, California, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Mariachi and leads the Pitman Marching Pride. His top ensembles regularly receive superior ratings at competitions and festivals and his groups have performed across California, Washington, D.C. and Carnegie Hall in New York. Mr Modesto also leads the Latin American Music Ensemble at the California State University, Stanislaus, where he also teaches Latin American Music Pedagogy.
Mr. Modesto’s awards include the Tracy Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Inspirational Award, Stanislaus County High School Teacher of the Year, Comcast SportsNet All-Star Teacher of the Year and the Turlock Chamber of Commerce Educator of the year.
Mr. Modesto was born and raised in Stockton, California and is a product of Stockton public schools. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, where he studied trumpet with Dr. Keith Benjamin and conducting with Gary W. Hill.
Mr. Modesto’s teaching career began at West Middle School in Kansas City, Kansas. He later moved back to California and was the Director of Bands at Tracy High School in Tracy before assuming his current responsibilities at Pitman High School in the Fall of 2006 and began teaching at CSU Stanislaus in the Spring of 2024.