California People
Cindy Shea, Grammy Musician
Exceptional Trumpet Player, Cindy Shea and Mariachi Divas
If you ask, "What's a blonde Southern California beach girl doing in a mariachi band?" you are not alone. Like millions before me, I pondered the concept of presumably Hispanic-rooted mariachi music as relating to a multi- Grammy Award winning band, Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea.
Cindy Shea is no ordinary musician but the passion that drives her is not uncommon. She says that when she was 8 years young she told her parents, "I want to become one of the world's best trumpet players." Her parents supplied the beginnings of something great, paying for weekly lessons. But that wouldn't be enough. Seeking to gain access to the best studio musicians LA had to offer, she grew and began teaching music lessons to others to help pay for her own lessons.
After high school (Los Altos High) she studied at Cal State Fullerton under Bill Bing, a well known trumpeter who has coached and taught students performing in Red Hot Chili Peppers, Reel Big Fish, Poncho Sanchez, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic and more.
Arturo Sandoval, famed trumpeter/composer, who was impressed by Shea's talent, offered her a full scholarship to Florida International University School of Music. The Hacienda Heights native studied under the Cuban jazz master in Miami and then returned to SoCal to begin performing professionally.
Like another Grammy-Award winning musician, Michael League (Snarky Puppy), who gained experience performing Gospel music in churches, Shea performed in an all female mariachi band after numerous stints in bands at Playboy Jazz Festival and other high profile events and venues such as Hollywood Bowl.
She quickly learned a new style (mostly by ear,) and how to transpose music on the spot. When the group disbanded in 1999 she formed Mariachi Divas. In an era in which divas were in vogue, she gave the all female band of approx. 12-16 musicians a name that would be easy to remember and understand in many languages. Nearly two decades later Mariachi Divas has earned numerous Grammy nominations and awards, released albums/CDs regularly and was adopted as the official band of Disneyland.
Cindy Shea's musical talent and support from her parents, husband, children, and all who met this rising star and helped motivate her toward becoming the best, have contributed to her great success and fulfillment of a childhood dream. Cindy Shea has become one of the world's best trumpet players, but so much more!