I am blessed.  As a boy, my family and I immigrated to the Yakima Valley in Washington State to be farmworkers.  Originally from the central state of Jalisco in Mexico, most of my 11 siblings now live spread across the US in Illinois, California, and Washington.  Following my father’s work in agriculture, we moved and worked harvests throughout the US. 

 

I loved America as much as my homeland, especially the music. I went to the University of Washington, and lively Seattle taught me to love good coffee and gave me my first encounter with transformative Catholic liturgy at St. James Cathedral in Seattle.  While living in the Northwest I took part in many music groups ranging from jazz, musical theater, university choirs, Latino rock bands, mariachi, Gregorian chant, youth bands, and Spanish charismatic choirs.  I composed and arranged music while in most of those groups.  

 

Even though I never had formal training, my continuous work in music enabled me to become proficient in music theory, opening up many more opportunities.  In college I studied International Relations and Religion, but my attraction to sacred music led me to pursue a vocation as Music Director for the past 12 years, first with the Dominicans at the Newman Center at the University of Washington.  Subsequently I served for several years with the Franciscans at the historic Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, California, and now at the beautiful Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church in La Jolla, CA where I also am Youth Director.  I currently serve with the Jesuits at the Catholic Newman Center Community at University of California San Diego and have recently contributed musical support to the ministry of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego.  In recent years I have given concerts at local churches in the San Diego area, and have produced three albums of music, in Spanish and English.  I currently reside in San Diego, CA.