Tizoc Ceballos

BM Performance - Composition
BM Music Education
Class of 2008

Tizoc’s life has always revolved around music in one way or another. He began studying piano during his first years of elementary school and was first introduced to the trumpet when his father purchased a used trumpet from a co-worker. Tizoc began learning the trumpet in the fifth grade, and studied with Bobby Rodríguez at the Los Angeles Music and Arts School.

In 1991 Tizoc began taking Mariachi classes at the L. A. Music and Arts School, and slowly discovered a passion for Mariachi music that would change his life forever. By the age of 16, Tizoc had not only entered the Mariachi community, but also had the privilege of playing along side of some of the best Mariachis in the world, toured the United States, México and El Salvador with Mexican pop singer José Manual Figueroa, and directed his own group Mariachi group, Mariachi Alma Y Vida de Tizoc Ceballos.

Tizoc recently graduated from Chapman University.  He earned a Bachelors degree in music composition and music education. Although he started at Chapman as a music education major, he soon realized thanks to the encouragement of his wife, professors and friends, that his passion was for composition and new music. Tizoc’s newfound excitement for new music led him to participate in Chapman’s New Music Ensemble where he began learning percussion, and expanding his exposure to 21st century music. 

In 2007 Tizoc was the recipient of the Smith Composition Award and had the privilege of having one of his pieces Broken Promises read and recorded by The California Ear Unit. Next fall, Tizoc will be continuing his education in the Masters of Music in Composition program at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University Long Beach.