Johnny Gonzalez

Johnny Gonzalez, a native of Southern California, is in his 12th year teaching mariachi education in the Clark County School
District.  Johnny graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education degree from California State University Los Angeles where he studied as a trumpet and guitar player in Classical, Jazz, and Mariachi music.

Johnny began studying mariachi music at a very young age and his early musical instruction included the trumpet, vihuela, and voice.  Johnny attended the Jose Hernandez Mariachi Heritage Society in its inaugural year in 1998.  He then started performing professionally at the age of 17 and began touring extensively throughout Mexico and the US.  He spent over twelve years performing in some of the world’s most recognized venues such as The Greek Theater, Hollywood Bowl, Staples Center, Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara Jalisco, and the Smith Center in Las Vegas.

Today, Johnny is privileged to be a part of the K.O. Knudson Academy of the Arts faculty.  As the mariachi director of the award-winning Mariachi Los Pumas de K.O. Knudson, his goal is to continue to be an elite mariachi institution in the Clark County School District.