Christopher Rubalcava is a professional trumpet player, mariachi educator, musical director, and arranger dedicated to preserving mariachi tradition while developing the next generation of musicians. He currently serves as a Mariachi Teaching Artist with Riverside Arts Academy, providing mariachi instruction throughout the Inland Empire and helping students develop strong fundamentals in musicianship, ensemble performance, and traditional mariachi style.

A graduate of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Rubalcava earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Studies with trumpet as his primary instrument. His career has brought together performance, music education, arranging, and ensemble leadership across both professional and educational settings.

As a performer, Rubalcava is a member of Mariachi Rams, the official mariachi ensemble of the Los Angeles Rams. His professional performance experience has included appearances at major Southern California venues including the Ford Theatre, The Soraya, and Crypto.com Arena. During his time performing with Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar, he also had the opportunity to accompany internationally recognized artists including Ángela Aguilar, Ana Bárbara, Pedro Fernández, Paquita la del Barrio, and Leo Dan.

Rubalcava is also the founder and musical director of Mariachi Corazón de Mi Tierra, a professional ensemble based in Southern California. Through the group, he continues to perform, arrange music, and promote mariachi as both a living cultural tradition and an evolving professional art form.

His work as an educator spans K–12, community, and collegiate music education. In addition to his work with Riverside Arts Academy and Alvord Unified School District, Rubalcava serves as an Affiliate Professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where he works with trumpet students in the university’s mariachi program. He has also served as an Honor Mariachi Clinician for the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, directing student musicians in an intensive honor ensemble setting.

Rubalcava’s teaching philosophy emphasizes strong musical fundamentals, stylistic authenticity, ensemble musicianship, and meaningful connections between students and the cultural traditions behind the music they perform. Through both teaching and performance, he strives to help young musicians develop the confidence, discipline, and musical foundation necessary to carry mariachi forward for future generations.