Celebrating the diverse histories, cultures, and contributions of all communities throughout the year is essential. Hispanic Heritage Month calls us to shine a special light on Hispanic and Latinx communities. Now more than ever, these celebrations matter. For the Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus, it is also a reminder of the power of music to honor heritage, tell stories, and ensure voices from many traditions are heard.

A Tapestry of Musical Roots



The music of Hispanic cultures is not born from a single source. It reflects centuries of exchange among Indigenous peoples of the Americas, African diasporas, and European influences. In colonial Mexico and South America, Spanish and Portuguese sacred forms blended with Indigenous rhythms, languages, and instruments, while African traditions brought by enslaved peoples gave rise to powerful percussive and dance elements. The result was an entirely new musical landscape: joyful, layered, and resilient.

One composer from this era, Juan García de Zéspedes (ca. 1619–1678), represents this confluence. Active in Puebla, Mexico, his works include sacred music and villancicos (popular songs with folk elements). His Convidando Está la Noche, which OaklandGMC will perform this holiday season, alternates between formal European polyphony and dance-like sections that pulse with local flavor. It is music that embodies both colonial structures and the vibrant communities that shaped them.

Diaspora and Memory

Another thread of Hispanic heritage is found in Ladino music, the Judeo-Spanish tradition preserved by Sephardic Jewish communities after their expulsion from Spain in 1492. Ladino songs traveled across the Mediterranean and beyond, carrying with them stories of longing, celebration, and identity.

When OaklandGMC performs Ocho Kandelikas, a lively Ladino song celebrating Hanukkah, we acknowledge both its roots in the Spanish language and its unique place in Sephardic culture. Although Ladino does not always neatly fit into Hispanic Heritage Month, it reminds us of how histories are intertwined and how shared languages and diasporas create enduring cultural legacies.

From Past to Present

While these historical traditions are foundational, Hispanic and Latinx music encompasses more than just the past. Today, composers like Berkeley native Gabriela Lena Frank and ensembles across the Americas continue to expand classical repertoire with works rooted in their heritage. At the same time, popular genres like mariachi, salsa, reggaetón, and banda thrive as global forces of joy, identity, and resistance. To honor Hispanic Heritage Month is to see this music as living, evolving, and essential to the cultural fabric of today.

Why This Matters at OaklandGMC

Historically, Hispanic and Latinx composers have often been overlooked in mainstream choral programming. At Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus, we are committed to helping change that. Each season, our Artistic Director expands our songbook to include music from a range of cultures and traditions, giving our singers the opportunity to grow musically and to connect with voices beyond the familiar canon.

By including works like Convidando Está la Noche and Ocho Kandelikas in our upcoming holiday concert, we honor the rich musical contributions of Hispanic and Latinx heritage while staying true to our mission: giving voice through song to a community where everyone matters. This commitment is rooted in our belief in the power of community, where music fosters connection, belonging, and shared celebration.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus invites you to celebrate with us, to listen with open hearts, and to reflect on how music, past and present, continues to shape our shared story.