Gabriel Zepeda is an educator and violinist from Pomona, California, with a passion for mariachi music and sharing its traditions with the next generation of musicians.

Coming from a deeply rooted lineage of performers, Gabriel represents the eighth generation of the Hernandez Mariachi family. He began playing violin at just two years old and has since had the opportunity to perform alongside renowned artists across both the mariachi and classical music worlds. During his early musical training, Gabriel studied at the Pascale Music Institute in Pasadena, where he performed with the children’s orchestra and appeared in a national commercial.

Today, Gabriel performs with Mariachi Corazón de mi Tierra, a professional ensemble bringing authentic mariachi music to audiences throughout the Inland Empire and surrounding communities. He is also pursuing a degree in Music Education at Mt. San Antonio College, with plans to transfer to a four-year university and continue his studies.

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and uncles, Gabriel is proud to carry his family’s musical legacy forward through both performance and education. As an educator, he is dedicated to sharing his knowledge, preserving the traditions of mariachi, and inspiring young musicians to develop their own connection to the music and culture.