Ryan Seacrest visits Diamond Bar High tomorrow

Please join American Idol’s Ryan Seacrest, The Grammy Foundation, KIIS FM, and the Ford Motor Company to celebrate Diamond Bar High School’ Steve Acciani being named a national semifinalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award on Tuesday, November 11.

Come and help support the Diamond Bar High School Music Program!

Diamond Bar High School will be participating in the Ford Motor Company’s Drive 4 UR School national test drive program to help raise money for the school’s outstanding music program.

GRAMMY Foundation Honorary Chair Ryan Seacrest will be on hand to join members of the Diamond Bar community who participate and support DBHS by test-driving a new Ford vehicle.

For every person over 18 who test-drives at this one-day event, Ford Motor Company and Fairway Ford will donate $20, up to $6,000, to Diamond Bar’s music education program.

The event will also feature all 700 DBHS instrumental music students performing, and be hosted by KIIS FM.

The event will take place on Tuesday, November 11, from 11:00am until 5:00pm, with Ryan Seacrest expected to join the celebration from 1pm until 3pm.

Food trucks will be on hand, so come spend some time enjoying an afternoon out with the community.

Diamond Bar High School is located at 21400 E. Pathfinder Road in Diamond Bar.

Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea releases 10th album

After 15 years of Mariachi music experience and two GRAMMY Awards, the Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea celebrate the production and distribution of their 10th album, 15 Aniversario, with a special concert at the House of Blues Anaheim.

The 15-woman band will be celebrating a trajectory of music-making spanning 15 years of Mariachi music imbued with flavors from not only Los Angeles and Mexico but many Latin American and other countries that these women are from.

The concert will take place  Aug. 29 starting at 7 p.m. at the House of Blues Anaheim, 1530 Disneyland Drive and is open to all ages. Seating is first come, first serve.

The multifaceted ensemble, founded in 1999 by Cindy Shea of Hacienda Heights and under the musical direction of GRAMMY award-winning Alberto “Beto” Jimenez Maeda, is a unique group of musically talented women showcasing the true flavor of Los Angeles and the diversity of music found in this city.

In their 15th year, the group recently released their 10th album, 15 Aniversario, a compilation of special songs and a potpourri of classic sounds and lyrics of Mariachi music, including:  a new composition by Beto Jimenez and Ismael Gallegos titled “Estampas de Mi Tierra”, and an inspiring composition and collaborative effort by Beto Jimenez and Latin GRAMMY winner, Paulina Aguirre, titled “Mirando Hacia Arriba”.

“Every day we perform, we see how our music affects our audience.  They are happy; they sing with us; and they dance.  This is why celebrating 15 years of making Mariachi music is so special to me,” said Shea, trumpet player and founder of Mariachi Divas.

“I am delighted to be celebrating 15 years of mariachi music with our fans and the women that have made this group so successful.”

The group has been represented by women from many different backgrounds, from Japanese and Argentinean to Colombian, Cuban and Guatemalan.

 

 

Their second GRAMMY Award was received in 2014 for their 9th album, A Mi Manera, and it made history as it marked the first time any mariachi group ever received two GRAMMYs. Their first GRAMMY Award in 2009, for Canciones De Amor, marked the first time in the history of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences that an all-female mariachi group had been a nominee and a winner.  They have received a total of six GRAMMY nominations and one Latin GRAMMY nomination for Best Regional Mexican Song of the Year for their song, “Ay Mi Mexico”, on their album titled Oye.  This year, they also received the Premios Fox Music USA 2013 Award for Best Mariachi and their musical director, Alberto “Beto” Jimenez Maeda, received the Best Male Composer Award.

Grammy gala honors Diamond Bar High musicians

Diamond Bar High musicians perform at Grammy Gala. (Photo by Kelli Gile)

Diamond Bar High musicians perform at Grammy Gala. (Photo by Kelli Gile)

And the Grammy goes to Diamond Bar High School.

Diamond Bar celebrated its selection as one of only a dozen high schools picked as a Grammy signature school with a gala Monday night in the Diamond Bar Center.

In fact, the local high school was named the best, earning the title of National Grammy Signature School in addition to receiving $6,000.

Diamond Bar High musicians perform at Grammy Gala. (Photo by Kelli Gile)

Diamond Bar High musicians perform at Grammy Gala. (Photo by Kelli Gile)

“Through this Grammy in the Schools initiative, the Grammy Foundation is able to provide critical financial resources and bring attention to the excellence of music programs in schools across the United States,” said Neil Portnow, President and CEO of The Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation.

The foundation will recognize Diamond Bar during a special concert on Saturday in the Mt. San Antonio College theater. The community added its support by throwing the semiformal ball.

The Brahmas and their supporters gathered Monday to honor the musical program under teachers Steve Acciani and Marie Sato, directors of instrumental music, and choir director Patty Breitag.

“We are incredibly proud of Patty, Marie, and Steve for this amazing accomplishment,” said Principal Catherine Real.

Read more in Rich Irwin’s story GRAMMY