Mission

Mission

Honoring The Past, Living The Present, Dreaming The Future

Diaz Music Institute (DMI) is committed to the education, preservation, and performance of Latinx music. DMI creates opportunities through music education for all children, especially at-risk Latinx and children of color, of any income level with the potential of developing a professional career in the music industry. DMI actively establishes partnerships with schools and other organizations in Houston’s lower-income neighborhoods. To support our mission, DMI has implemented the following programs:

1. Established an award-winning youth ensemble, “Caliente.”

2. Developed a year-round after-school music program to provide kids without access to an opportunity to develop their talent.

3. Host a yearly conservatory-modeled summer music camp for at-risk BIPOC students.

4. Developed an outreach program for marginalized students of color with strong musical performance and career development.

5. Presentation of concerts in marginalized, under-represented areas of Houston.

Young people’s voices are an essential focus of our organization. Developing independent creative artists paves the way for these young musicians to sculpt their future by creating artistic voices and networking to become an integral part of the music industry.

History

Established in 2000 by its founder, Jose Antonio Diaz,

Diaz Music Institute (DMI) is a BIPOC-led organization in Houston, TX. The ethnicity of our communities is 70.8 Hispanic, 25.1 African American, 2.0 White, 1.31 Asian, .1 Native American, Pacific Islander .1, Multi-ethnic .71, and .94 other. Over 85% of students in our community come from economically disadvantaged homes. Our workshops target marginalized, at-risk BIPOC students to offer an elite, rigorous, and rewarding learning opportunity. DMI was featured in many television news stories and magazine articles. Our award-winning youth ensemble, “Caliente,” has performed at The Midwest Clinic, Jazz Education Network, and the National Association for Music Education. DMI was recently selected as a Lewis Prize for Music semi-finalist and featured by NEA “American Artscape” magazine as a Hispanic music organization for providing equity and access to the arts for Hispanic/Latinx Communities. Additionally, we received congressional recognition from Sheila Jackson Lee for our work in Houston and partnered with the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation to donate books to every student at Worsham Elementary. With the help of our Houston-based teaching artists, our curriculum has yielded impressive results with our students; some of these accolades include:

• 100% High School graduation.
• Students received over $2,000,000 in scholarships since the establishment of DMI.
• Students have graduated from prestigious schools such as Harvard, Berklee, and the University of Miami.
• Alums have performed with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Kanye West, Tori Kelly, Anita Baker, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, and TD Jakes, to name just a few.
• Alums have won Grammys and a Stellar Artist of the Year Award.
• DMI was selected twice by the National Arts and Humanities Program Award as a finalist.
• Recognized by Texas Monthly Magazine as one of 20 Reasons Texas Music is Bigger and Better Than Ever.

Every aspect of Diaz Music Institute represents a solid Racial Equity Diversity Inclusion policy. From our team to the students and community served, we diligently promote cultural awareness and equitable opportunities for all regardless of race, ethnic group, age, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, mental and physical conditions, and religion.

What We Do!

• Focus on the development of Latin music
• Study composers and musicians that were pivotal
• Nurture students through an outreach program with strong musical substance
• Develop a mentor program for students
• Present concert events and workshops for the community

How We Help Kids?