Memorial Foundation Has Awarded Music Scholarships
The Elisa Gastellum Memorial Foundation supports Las Vegas students pursuing mariachi music and education.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Scholarships
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The Elisa Gastellum Memorial Foundation has awarded 27 music scholarships to support young Las Vegas mariachi musicians. The foundation provides funding for college tuition, instruments, and music lessons to honor the legacy of Elisa Gastellum.
Why it matters
The foundation was established to celebrate the memory of Elisa Gastellum after she died in a car crash at age 18. By funding music education, it helps local students pursue their artistic goals while building a pipeline of new instructors.
The foundation has issued 27 scholarships to date to support young musicians. Among these recipients, 10 have successfully transitioned into careers as mariachi teachers within the Las Vegas school system.
The players
Elisa Gastellum
She was a young student who died in a car crash at age 18.
Javier Gastellum
He is a long-standing music educator who has taught mariachi at Gibson Middle School for two decades.
Ervin Garcia
He is a scholarship recipient who benefited from the foundation's support for music students.
Gibson Middle School
This is a Las Vegas educational institution that serves as a site for local mariachi instruction.
The details
The foundation assists students by covering college tuition and providing necessary equipment like instruments. Javier Gastellum, who has taught mariachi music at Gibson Middle School for 20 years, plays a central role in this educational ecosystem.
Timeline
Javier Gastellum began his tenure at Gibson Middle School 20 years ago.
Ervin Garcia received a scholarship nearly 20 years after the teacher started his career.
Culture Shift
The foundation's work aligns with the growth of school-based mariachi programs in the Clark County School District. This trend reflects a broader societal movement toward formalizing and institutionalizing cultural music education within public schools.
Local students seeking to pursue mariachi music can apply for financial assistance to cover tuition, lessons, and equipment costs. Families in Las Vegas may also benefit from the increased availability of qualified music instructors trained through these programs.
The takeaway
Supporting student musicians helps preserve cultural traditions while providing clear career pathways in music education. Students and families should look for local foundations that bridge the gap between academic costs and specialized artistic training.
Further reading
Learn more about local educational opportunities at Scholarships.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox5vegas.
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