SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. – Kurt To is music to a mariachi fan's ears. But if you couldn't see him, you'd be hard pressed to picture the Vietnamese violinist singing in perfect Spanish.

“When I’m playing the music and I’m singing ... if there was a wall in front of me you probably could not tell that I’m Vietnamese American. And that’s the whole point,” said To.

To began playing mariachi in high school. He’s been playing orchestral music since he was 5 years old, and when his best friend asked him to play mariachi together, he found the change of pace he was looking for.

“It was definitely more mellow, but I mean everyone plays the same thing. Whereas in mariachi there’s anywhere from five to 10 people. And you’re kind of ‘soloing’ and you’re more expressive. And there’s obviously more attention to you because there’s only a few of you. And I don’t know I just feel a certain excitement I never felt in orchestra,” To said.

His love for music actually began generations before. His grandfather was an accomplished musician in Vietnam and his father is a pianist. His family’s San Juan Capistrano living room turned studio gives you an idea of their appreciation for different sounds.

“I think music’s in my blood. I don’t think I was forced to do it,” said To.

But liking the music is one thing - becoming part of the band is quite another.

To is a member of Mariachi Nuevo Capistrano. They practice in the heart of San Juan Capistrano, on the historic Los Rios Street. It’s because of this intersection of music and culture that he and his Mexican bandmates become part of the larger discussion that even in the most unexpected ways, what we have in common can often bring us together.

“Surprisingly enough, to this day, there’s very few if little to none instances of anyone saying, like, ‘Oh this is weird.’ If anything it’s encouraging, like, ‘Hey I’m so glad you’re respecting this culture and you love it,” To said.

So far it’s worked out for the two-time Battle of the Mariachis winners. For To, who's a student at Cal State Fullerton, the music has become a way of life.

“I feel like I’m so into the culture, into the music that it’s my identity now,” To says.