When Mario Rodriguez was 15, he attended a house party hosted by the famous American hip hop and breaking group Rock Steady Crew, where local artist Hen G was the DJ for the event.
Rodriguez was captivated by DJ Hen-G and the emotions he evoked through his music and elaborate electronic equipment. Hen-G noticed Rodriguez's interest and encouraged him to try out a turntable, leaving it on overnight.
Rodriguez didn't sleep that night and continued DJing all day until Heng Zhi returned. It was at this moment in 1993 that Mario Rodriguez realized his life's mission was to hone his skills on the turntables.
Now known as DJ Chonz, Rodriguez has been cultivating his passion for DJing since 1993.
At age 17, Rodriguez rose to prominence in the Denver hip-hop scene after winning a local radio DJ contest. He went on to compete and win several regional and national competitions, paving the way for him to share the same stage as megastars like Dr. Dre, Eminem, The Roots and Snoop Dogg. He then went on to host a show on Denver's popular Top 40 radio station, KS107.5 (KQKS-FM).
In 2018, DJ Chonz, along with DJ Staxx, founded Denver DJ School, an organization that teaches the craft of DJing to youth and adults. Since its inception, Denver DJ School has mentored over 5,000 students interested in DJing and podcasting.
The school currently has eight instructors who specialize in DJing, scratching, music production and podcasting. They teach 20-25 classes per week at North Denver, and the instructors also teach to more than 200 students at Lake Middle School during the school year.
“I've always thought a DJ school would be a great idea, especially for DJs like me who want to stay connected to the DJ scene without constantly going to clubs. As an instructor, sharing my passion for music with aspiring DJs is extremely rewarding – it's just as fulfilling as being in a nightclub,” says DJ Chonz.
“Denver DJ School is an outlet for students who don't have a platform to express themselves,” DJ Chonz continued. “Plus, I wanted to challenge myself and prove that I could overcome many setbacks and build something.”
The school has a diverse student body, with people from all backgrounds, ages and professions.
“Our students come from all ages and backgrounds, from age 8 to 62. We have doctors, lawyers, professional athletes, reality TV stars, professional DJs and many more looking to improve their game through our master classes,” DJ Chonz explains. “We're also fortunate to have programs like MySpark that allow DJs to get started even if they don't have the financial means to attend our school or buy the equipment.”
Mia Reyes, a 16-year-old sophomore at Denver North High School, has been taking classes with DJ Chongz and DJ Ness since she was in the sixth grade. From an early age, Reyes was exposed to all kinds of music. Her father is a musician, and his musical talent influenced her, and it was her father who encouraged her to take DJ classes.
“Denver DJ School is special to me because it has given me so many amazing opportunities to make it in the world as a DJ. It's a great organization that I'm glad I was a part of,” Reyes says. “The best thing about being a DJ is bringing people together through music. When I hear a song and see people's faces light up, it motivates me to keep going.”
For DJ Chonz and Reyes, the school is ultimately a place that brings artists together and builds a diverse, vibrant community.
“We foster a sense of community through the art of music. Our school welcomes you no matter your favorite genre: hip hop, EDM, funk, soul, etc.,” said DJ Chonz. “I spent my childhood in a hip hop shop called Casa Del Funk where I soaked up the music and culture. I want our students and customers to experience the same sense of belonging and inspiration when they come to Denver DJ School.”
“Even after you complete the Denver DJ School program, we're always here to support you,” DJ Chonz added. “We offer our graduates frequent DJing opportunities where they can get paid for what they've learned, allowing them to recoup their investment. We also book established DJs who are active in the industry for clients such as Ameristar Casino, Thompson Denver Hotel, and Elitch Gardens.”
For more information about DJ Chonz and the Denver DJ School, djchonz.com and Denver.