Our Mission

Our mission is to build people through providing geographically and financially accessible marching arts opportunities in California’s Coachella Valley and desert communities.

Desert Performing Arts Association was established in 2022 to provide geographically and financially accessible marching arts opportunities in California’s Coachella Valley and desert communities.

In the summer of 2023, we launched our first ever educational camp. We want to give a special thanks to the Artists Council at the Galen in Palm Desert, CA, the city of Palm Springs, Palm Springs High School, Indio Middle School, Shadow Hills High School, WCWG, and WGASC for hosting our programs for rehearsals, or hosting performances and competitions for our programs.

In 2024, Las Palmas Winter Guard and Del Sol Winds competed for the first time in WCWG and WGASC. Las Palmas placed 2nd at the 2024 WCWG Championships, and Del Sol placed 1st at the 2024 WGASC Championships.

Our competitive ensembles:

Our Story

Del Sol Winds

Las Palmas Winter Guard

Meet the Team

  • Matthew Richards

    Executive Director - DPAA
    Ensemble Director - Del Sol Winds

  • Andres Nestor Garcia

    Ensemble Director - Las Palmas Winter Guard

  • Connor Edmundson

    Instructional Staff - Del Sol Winds

  • Tommy Jurado

    Instructional Staff - Las Palmas Winter Guard

  • Celina Beckham

    Instructional Staff - Las Palmas Winter Guard

  • Ruben Hernandez

    Instructional Staff - Las Palmas Winter Guard