Richard Mata and his wife Esperanza Juarez founded The Mariachi Conservatory on January 2007 in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. With the support of Monsignor John Moretta and Resurrection Church, Richard and Esperanza began teaching mariachi music classes at the church hall at Resurrection.
In 2009 Richard Mata joined the outstanding faculty of Bishop Mora Salesian High School and was given the task to revitalize the music program and restore the school’s musical legacy.
On August of 2009, Salesian High School graciously open its doors to give The Mariachi Conservatory a new home, and where mariachi music classes currently continue to resonate and reverberate into the cityscape of Boyle Heights.
In 2012 The Mata Family where featured in a short documentary entitled “Canto de Familia”, directed by Lindsey Villarreal. The documentary was featured in KCET’s Fine Cut Series and featured in various independent film festivals throughout the nation.
In 2012, both The Mariachi Conservatory and LaOpera partnered up in creating The Zarzuela Project. The Project’s goals are to increase singing opportunities in Los Angeles and the physical, personal and communal benefits of singing. As well, the Project seeks to foster appreciation for the rich Spanish Zarzuela tradition, and (to celebrate) (to explore) its evolution and fusion with mariachi in Mexico and the Americas.
In 2015, Richard Mata, Esperanza Juarez, and their two daughters Angelica and America where featured worldwide in the CBS Reality Documentary series “The Briefcase” to share their passion in preserving mariachi music. Thanks to the generous support of The Melanson Family of Hingham Massachusetts, the necessary funds where secured for mariachi instruments and the costs for non-profit status filing.
In 2016, The Mata Family where featured in an interview in Univision’s Saturday series “Lanzate” with host Fernanda Kelly. The Mata Family shared their struggles and achievements while continuing to preserve the art form of mariachi music with The Mariachi Conservatory.
In 2016, The Mariachi Conservatory became a Non-Profit 501 (c)(3) Organization.
In 2017, The Boyle Heights Beat and Fox 11 News with Hal Eisner highlight The Mariachi Conservatory’s ongoing commitment in providing equity and access to young mariachi students in the Greater Los Angeles Area.
In 2018, The Mariachi Conservatory in partnership with Bishop Mora Salesian High School made a historical performance as their serenade to NASA Astronaut Joseph M. Acaba is transmitted across space and into the International Space Station!
In 2019, The Mata Family and The Mariachi Conservatory are recipients by Hispanics for LAOpera and LAOpera for their outstanding leadership in the arts preserving and promoting both the art form of Mariachi and Zarzuela Music in the Greater Los Angeles Community.
In 2019, Richard Mata shares his love and passion of Boyle Height’s Mariachi Plaza in the section “My L.A.: Mariachi Plaza” LMU Magazine May 2019 Edition.
In 2020, KCET highlights The Mariachi Conservatory’s significant rise of the female mariachi musician.
In 2022, Richard Mata was interviewed by Telemundo to discuss his efforts in teaching young students the importance of preserving the mariachi tradition at Salesian High School and the Greater Los Angeles Area.
In 2023, Richard and Angelica Mata served as mariachi clinicians for the Varsity Middle School Ensemble for the Honors Mariachi Festival for Clark County Unified School District in Las Vegas.
In 2023, Richard Mata served as a mariachi adjudicator for the Los Angeles Unified School District held at Hollenbeck Middle School in Boyle Heights.
In 2023, Angelica Mata was interviewed by La Opinion to illustrate her unique TK teaching style that incorporates both mariachi music arts and standard school curriculum.
In 2023, Angelica Mata was interviewed by EstrellaTV to highlight her efforts to encouraging her TK students to preserve their cultures and traditions as she continues to do so with mariachi music.
