Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-San Bernardino) partnered with Andy Vargas, the lead singer of Santana and San Bernardino Community College to provide 14 students in the 47th District with the distinct opportunity to learn music production.
The Andy Vargas Music Production Academy is a 6-month program that began in April and will culminate in October with a graduation performance ceremony and issuing of certificates. The training was provided free-of-charge to the students. The students are receiving lessons in engineering fields, music writing, singing, licensing and marketing and skills on relationship building and networking.
Students who are participating, attend San Bernardino City Unified School District, Colton Joint Unified School District, Fontana Unified School District, and Rialto Unified School District.
Anthony Hernandez, Bethany Bjorkman, Alyssa Edwards, David Osorio, Lilliane Vargas, Priscilla Bracamontes, Natalie Luna, Anthony Cervantes, Nidrick Reed, Samantha Contreras, Alejandra Salamanca, Daphne Servine, Angela Sanchez, and DeJuan Rabb
“I am honored to partner with Andy Vargas to bring the Andy Vargas Music Production Academy to the 47th Assembly District,” said Assemblymember Reyes. “Due to the disparity of funding for after school music and art programs in the Inland Southern California Region, I am working with the Andy Vargas Foundation to provide our students with opportunities to excel in the arts. I am excited to see the impact this program has made on our students.”
“We use music as a tool for self-expression, by giving children the skill of self-regulation and getting them ready for a successful life. My goal for our program is to share the inspiration that was given to me by the example of my peers. We learn by example, and when our students see the passion and love we have for music it becomes infectious,” said Andy Vargas. “When I visited the city of San Bernardino I saw the potential the city has to offer, and my heart immediately connected to the youth.”
This pilot program will allow Assemblymember Reyes to analyze the program’s success and participation to identify public policy solutions that will help provide successful after school and art programs in our district.