By Cynthia Haro, Feb. 15, 2022
What once began as a hobby stemming from his love for music has now led alumnus Christopher Ruvalcava to become a member of the only mariachi band to play for an NFL football team.
Playing outside of the Super Bowl LVI, Ruvalcava and his group will proudly represent Mexican culture as they play for the Mariachi Rams, the official mariachi for the Los Angeles Rams.
Nearly two decades after the Cal Poly Pomona mariachi took their hiatus, the mariachi group Los Broncos de Pomona was formed under the direction of Jessie M. Vallejo, associate professor of ethnomusicology and director of Mariachi Ensembles. From this group, many students have found their passion for music, and talent has sprung from their experience with Los Broncos de Pomona. Ruvalcava is proof of the success that has come from Cal Poly Pomona’s mariachi group.
Though his passion was music, Ruvalcava started his college days in pursuit of a degree in engineering. Like many first-generation college students, his choice was based on the hopes of having a successful and stable career.
After studying engineering for several years, his love for music caused him to switch his focus to the music industry. With the shift in his education, he was able to explore many aspects of music including learning his way around a studio, which he would later create in his own home.
“Music is my life and there’s nothing I could do about that,” said Ruvalcava. “I was excited that there was finally a mariachi program at the school and to be one of the first members to join when it came back. I was really honored to be a part of it; it was what I had been doing since I was 18.”
Vallejo first began directing the ensemble the same year that Ruvalcava joined.
“Sitting in on his senior project was really inspiring, thinking about if I could turn this into a concentration or an emphasis, finding ways that followed Christopher’s big picture thinking,” explained Vallejo.
When explaining the impact that Ruvalcava’s presence at the Super Bowl LVI would have, member of Hermanas Unidas at Cal Poly Pomona, Nisbeth Perez said, “It holds a lot of meaning because mariachi is very rooted in my culture, so knowing that a little part of the Latinx community is going to something so big holds a lot of power, and I think the Latinx students at our school will feel seen through him.”
Ruvalcava’s passion for music inspired him to find different ways to transcribe, fuse and cover the broadness of the music industry while also fitting traditional mariachi in.
His hopes for the future generation of mariachi ensembles at Cal Poly Pomona are far from small.
“It gives me a lot of hope because when I was learning it, I knew mariachi was a dying art. I hope that new members will represent their roots, that they look to me as a part of this – the way I look at my trumpet heroes, but I hope they play by their standards,” Ruvalcava explained.
Along with the success thus far as a part of the Mariachi Rams, Ruvalcava has expanded his musical abilities in ways of his own. He explained that he plans to stay in the group for a long time and feels that being a Rams affiliate has allowed his personal group Mariachi Corazon de Mi Tierra to gain more publicity.
Following his time at Cal Poly Pomona, Ruvalcava has been giving back to his community by providing his knowledge of music to the public. With his YouTube channel Trumpet Mariachi Source and the after-school program for children in elementary school he works with, he teaches the fundamentals of music.
“Music is a uniting force,” stated Ruvalcava.
Ruvalcava explained that he sees this mariachi group going further than simply being the team’s band. “He (Jalen Ramsey) said that he wanted to be a part of the mariachi and I’m just happy to see him represent my culture,” Ruvalcava said. “You don’t have to be Mexican to wear the attire, just appreciate it.”
For three years, he has been a part of the Mariachi Rams, and now plays the home games at the Sofi Stadium for the Los Angeles Rams. “I’m familiar with all the players and just really proud to represent by playing things traditional mariachi groups don’t play; it creates an identity for the team,” stated Ruvalcava.
With the Los Angeles Rams playing at the Super Bowl LVI, the musicians can be found at the tailgate setting the mood for their teams’ fans.
‘’I see myself doing this for a very long time; I want it to be something that grows and grows. It’s something I have, and I’ll always be passionate about,” stated Ruvalcava.
Featured image courtesy of Christopher Ruvalcava.