Classics 4 Kids Hosts “La Música de Mexico” at Balboa Theatre

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San Diego Theatres

On November 17 & 18, thousands of young students visited the Balboa Theatre to enjoy a mariachi concert courtesy of our friends at Classics 4 Kids, a nonprofit that provides critical music education to elementary students in San Diego County and nationwide.

The bilingual concert, “La Música de Mexico,” delighted the students with blaring trumpets and horns, elegant strings, and fast-paced guitar strumming as the colorful skirts of folklorico dancers from Ballet Folklorico Jalisciense whirred. The vibrant music was played by the Classics Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Dana Zimbric, with special guests from Southwestern College’s Mariachi Garibaldi, a groundbreaking mariachi group that has performed worldwide. Students in grades K-5 enjoyed music selections from Mexican composers, arranged for orchestra and mariachi by Mariachi Garibaldi director Jeff Nevin. “La Música de Mexico” was presented with the generous support of the Qualcomm Foundation, Tegna Foundation, and California Arts Council.

Classics 4 Kids is a longtime nonprofit partner of San Diego Theatres, as all of its in-person concerts are held at the Balboa. In the 2021-22 academic year, Classics 4 kids served over 52,000 students, of which 65% came from schools in low-income communities. It offers virtual programs, in-school assemblies, and admission to in-person concerts at the Balboa. All these programs fulfill one goal – to inspire children through the experience of music, generating creativity, academic success and cultural understanding.

San Diego Theatres is honored to host Classics 4 Kids, the students that attend their concerts, and the artists they bring to share the power of music with San Diego’s kids. Our partnership continues with two more concerts this school year: Ferdinand the Bull in March 2023, and Nature’s Music in May 2023. To learn more about how Classics 4 Kids is inspiring resilience and joy in San Diego students through music, visit https://www.classics4kids.org/.