A nonprofit cultural arts academy, a band, a production studio, and a community space for youth and families, working together to amplify our Mexican roots here in the Bay Area and beyond.
Education
Considered a second home for generations of local families, Los Cenzontles Academy invites children to learn music, dance, folk arts and crafts and to play an essential role in maintaining living traditions.
The Band
Composed of Academy alumni, Los Cenzontles digs deep into our rich Mexican American roots and our many cultural connections to the world, promoting dignity, pride, and understanding.
Production
As first, second, and third generation immigrants and working-class people, with multi-racial and multi-ethnic backgrounds, we share our stories through film and video productions.
On June 21st, click the image to the left to watch Paloma Negra, our new music video directed by filmmaker Steve Condiotti. Evoking Mexico’s “Golden Age of Cinema” the video is a perfect match for Fabiola’s evocative vocals and deep love of that era. With striking visuals and a rich banda arrangement, the video brings new emotional power to a beloved song.
On July 21st, click the image to the left to watch Nueva Vida, a short documentary by filmmaker Chris Brown that offers an intimate, youth-centered look at Mexican American cultural expression through music. The film follows three teenage students at Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy as they collaborate in the Academy’s studio to record songs by their favorite corrido tumbado artists, a contemporary Mexican genre that blends traditional roots with modern urban influence.
Coming soon! O
n August 21st, click the image to the left to watch Taj Mahal and David Hidalgo: An Afternoon at Los Cenzontles. Music legends Taj Mahal and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos lead a Masterclass for Los Cenzontles Academy students–a moving portrait of intergenerational mentorship. The Masterclass is part of Taj and David’s 2025 residencies at Los Cenzontles, which incorporates several collaborations including the recording of the upcoming album, “Paniolo: A Hawaiian Mexican Connection.” The residencies were made possible thanks to the generous support of the Miner Anderson Family Foundation. We hope you enjoy this short documentary featuring Taj, David, and Los Cenzontles Juvenil!
