Emmanuel Bonilla (CSU ’23, B.M. Music Education) is making an impact as a teacher of choir, modern band, and mariachi at multiple schools in Fort Collins. Bonilla has strong roots in Colorado, where he has applied the pedagogical skills he developed at CSU with an inspiring level of positivity and resourcefulness in his classroom.
While growing up in Denver, Emmanuel had a garage band where he sang, played drums, and piano. These skills have transferred to teaching students how to play these instruments in his after-school modern band group.
According to Dana Kettlewell, a fellow CSU education graduate (CSU’15, M.M.), band teacher, and colleague at Lincoln Middle School, Bonilla was hired because of his impressive versatility. She emphasized the importance of serving students at Lincoln in ways beyond traditional band, orchestra, and choir.
Mariachi is the school's pride and joy
Bonilla is also the co-director of Mariachi Jaguares at nearby Irish Elementary School, an ensemble funded by Poudre School District’s “After 3” program that gives students in Title I schools free extended learning opportunities.
The pride of the bilingual school, their performances are a dazzling embrace of Mexican culture and traditional mariachi instruments, ‘traje de charro’ outfits, and colorful folkloric dresses. Mariachi Jaguares not only performs at their school but takes their show to other schools, the town hall, and the Poudre School District office as part of a Cinco de Mayo Tour. The tour includes a collaboration with the dance troupe Flor Antigua, another PSD “After 3” recipient program, where students learn traditional choreography to Mexican folk songs.
A heart filled with compassion
Lincoln serves students from beautifully diverse backgrounds, creating a melting pot of demographics, languages, and lived experiences — a scenario that Emmanuel holds close to his heart, and prompts him to approach any behavioral concerns in his classroom with grace and compassion for his students.
When asked about the differences in teaching elementary school versus middle school, Bonilla responded honestly, “Elementary schoolers will listen to you more and learn things faster. Middle schoolers tend to be more angsty; they feel like they’re big kids in sixth grade, and they like to feel rebellious.”
Bonilla feels fortunate to have studied at CSU, where he gained the foundation needed for his classroom work, including potential challenges every middle school teacher encounters and must navigate.