In a sixth grade music class, Daniel Flores (Communication ’14, Kellogg ’15) played the trumpet for the first time and came to two realizations. He first learned how music could change his life. He also realized how little support young Latino musicians receive to hone their craft.
“At our introductory trumpet class, we had like 35 Latino students, but by the next year, only three students kept going,” Flores said.
Flores’ family immigrated from Lima, Peru, to San Antonio, Texas, when he was just five years old. There, he found himself surrounded by a community of neighbors whose whole families had lived in San Antonio — apart from some immigrant families, but none were Peruvian.
Nearly 28 years later, Flores has become one of Chicago’s most popular trumpet players, known for promoting Latinidad through his TikTok account, @trumpetpapi, which has earned over 14 million total likes. Beyond his online presence, Flores is also the co-chair of the Latino Alumni of Northwestern Association, working to expand Latino representation in academic and artistic fields.
Growing up in a neighborhood where most adults lacked access to higher education, Flores faced various adversities when applying to college. Still, he was able to obtain a QuestBridge scholarship to study at NU, where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in communication studies along with minors in business institutions and Latino Studies.
“My neighbors, all my friends, none of them graduated high school. They all dropped out,” Flores said. “My neighbor’s parents — one drove buses, one painted houses, and the other one sold drugs. So I just felt like everything I saw around me, I was like, I literally have to do the opposite.”
At NU, he said he strived to prove that immigrant, low-income, first-generation college students were “paving the way” for newcomers on campus.
Hoping to connect with other Latino students, he reached out to fellow Latina NU student Tonantzin Carmona in her senior year. Alongside Carmona, Flores directed student-led campaigns to promote opportunities for fellow Latinos on campus.
“He wasn’t just involved, he was the glue that brought people together,” Carmona said. “Whether it was organizing Latino student gatherings on campus at the multicultural center, mentoring young students or even starting to cut people’s hair at his dorm room and becoming a community barber.”
Eventually, Flores started Mariachi NU, with the intent to popularize Mariachi music around campus among students who had never heard it before. He insisted that the club shouldn’t have auditions so musicians from all origins would feel welcome.
He also helped found the NU Quest Scholars Network and LANU.
“Ten years ago, these kinds of organizations didn’t exist; now they have become an institution,” said Antonio Vielma (Medill ’16), Flores’ Mariachi NU co-founder. “Daniel is a leader whose passion and charisma shine through in everything he puts his mind to.”
After graduating, Flores kept working as a trumpet player, despite not having received formal university education in the field. He joined Sector Latino, one of the oldest Chicago Fire FC supporter groups. There, he plays the trumpet for multiple soccer games across the country.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, he was encouraged by his family to start posting content on TikTok. At first, he said he was very insecure about the prospect because he wasn’t sure his content would attract a large audience.
Yet, he eventually conceded and started posting videos under the name of Trumpet Papi. Some time after, inspired by Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, he decided to post a trumpet version of “LA CANCIÓN” by Bad Bunny and J Balvin.
This video immediately blew up, gaining over two million likes and thousands of comments. The moment marked a turning point for Flores as he began dedicating more time to social media and showcasing his talents.
Simultaneously, he also joined the mariachi orchestra Mariachi Son de Fuego, with which he was able to play the song “Joy to the World” for the movie “Christmas… Again?!” on Disney+.
In 2023, Flores was invited to perform at Lollapalooza alongside Latin pop artist Lesly Reynaga. To fill out the sound, he invited Mariachi Northwestern to play with him, he said.
Years after having started this account, Flores has over 190,000 followers and shares Latin music and advocacy videos defending immigrants’ rights.
He also works in Chicago Public Schools, where he continues supporting first-generation and Latino students as they navigate academic spaces that were not originally designed with them in mind.
Through music, social media and community work, Flores aims to keep opening doors for more Latinos and Peruvians in the U.S., while bringing pride to his family.
“When we were children, my mother used to get emotional when listening to Daniel play. Now he plays our music to the world,” Patricia Flores, Daniel Flores’ sister, said.
As his trumpet reaches new audiences, Daniel Flores remains rooted in the same purpose: to make visible a community that is currently under attack and show that Latino excellence comes from everywhere and thrives anywhere.
“I wonder what would happen if more Latino students were allowed and motivated to continue learning music,” Flores said. “Maybe, there would be more trumpet papis and trumpet mamis around the world.”
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