MEET OUR NEW MARIACHI DIRECTOR!

We are delighted to welcome Santiago Romero to the SFYSA team. Santiago has extensive experience teaching youth, already knows students and teachers in our Mariachi program, and has been playing Mariachi music professionally for the last 16 years. Santiago is the director of the local "Mariachi Sonidos del Monte," and comes to us with great enthusiasm to work with our youth Mariachi ensembles.

FUN FACTS ABOUT SANTIAGO!

He has been playing the guitar since the age of 6.

Santiago is the first professional musician on both sides of his family.

He likes very hot chile. 

Santiago Romero is a professional musician and the musical director for Mariachi Sonidos del Monte.  He’s performed with Mariachi groups in Mexico, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico and once in Disney World with world-renowned Mariachi Cobre.  After teaching guitar for 3 years with Mariachi Espuelas de Plata in Las Cruces, NM, he accepted the Artistic Director position and led the organization for 2 additional years.  In 2005 he was the first appointed state representative of Mariachi music with the New Mexico Music Commission by Governor Bill Richardson.  When he’s not performing or teaching music, you’ll find him fishing, hiking or hunting in the mountains of northern New Mexico.  Santiago Romero and Mariachi Sonidos del Monte recently completed their first album titled, El Principio, and were nominated for 5 categories from both the New Mexico Hispanic Music Awards and the New Mexico Music Awards.   He and members of Mariachi Sonidos del Monte are currently preparing original music for their second Mariachi album.