Michael Wimberley was 7 years old when he and his older siblings, Danielle, Mark and James, heard Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s version of the high-energy bluegrass instrumental “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” for the first time.
The four Santiago Canyon College alums, who grew up in a home where vintage country music was part of everyday life, were captivated by the song and played it on repeat.
“That’s when the bluegrass bug bit us,” Michael said. “We were obsessed with the banjo from then on, and we really haven’t been right since.”
The Wimberleys’ love for bluegrass, combined with their natural musical talents, led to the formation of the Wimberley Bluegrass Band in 2008. All four contribute on vocals. Oldest sibling Danielle plays mandolin, James plays banjo and resonator guitar, his twin, Mark, plays guitar and Michael plays fiddle.
“It’s undeniably unique,” Mark said of bluegrass. “We were really taken with how a genre could have so much energy and at the same time be so innovative. … We really loved the way the vocal harmonies fit. A lot of the lyric structures are really honest, open stories.”
The Wimberley Bluegrass Band got its start performing at venues in the nearby apple country of Oak Glen. All self-taught musicians who were homeschooled through high school, the Wimberleys adapted well to the bluegrass structure.
“We learned by listening a lot and watching people at music jams or at concerts,” James said. “And being siblings and able to practice together gave us a lot of time to work off each other, watch each other and progress at the same level as each other.”
When Danielle graduated from high school in 2011, the family’s roots in the city of Orange made SCC an affordable, local option for continuing her education. Not long after she began classes in fall 2011, Mark and James joined her on campus for some dual enrollment credits. And Michael, not wanting to be left out, began classes as well in spring 2012 at just 13 years old.
The siblings often took courses together or shared the same professors, including Binh Vu for Music Appreciation 101. Throughout their time at SCC, the band continued performing and frequently found ways to integrate their music into their studies. Earlier this month, the siblings returned to campus to perform at SCC’s 2025 Fall Choral-Vocal Concert.
“It was a great experience, and everybody was very supportive,” Danielle said of their time at SCC. “Dr. Vu is one that we continue to stay in touch with, and over the years, we’ve collaborated on some musical events together.”
In the spring of 2014, all four siblings graduated from SCC with two associate degrees each. Danielle earned a degree in business management, James in math, Mark in computer information systems and Michael in marketing, in addition to their general liberal arts degrees.
The Wimberleys then transferred to Chapman University, where they all graduated with bachelor’s degrees in 2016. Danielle earned her degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. James majored in math with a minor in American history and later earned a master’s degree in data science. Mark earned his degree in communication studies.
Michael graduated in strategic and corporate communication with a minor in political science at 17 years old, making him the youngest student ever to graduate from Chapman. He went on to earn his law degree from Chapman’s Fowler School of Law.
Just as they had at SCC, the Wimberleys continued making music while earning their four-year degrees. The quartet credits their time at SCC with preparing them for the rigors of Chapman and helping them discover their passions beyond music. Many professors were instrumental in that process, including Scott Howell (history) and Tara Kubicka-Miller (communications).
“It was the really good professors at SCC that prepared us for the transfer to Chapman and also influenced us and helped us have an even better college experience at Chapman,” Michael said.
Today, all four siblings hold full-time positions, with Danielle working in project controls for OCTA, James serving as a data analyst at CHOC Children’s Hospital, Mark leading marketing and media engagement for Lutheran Social Services of Southern California and Michael practicing as a municipal attorney at Woodruff & Smart.
Even with their busy careers, the Wimberleys found time to perform 45 shows this past year across Southern California, Tennessee, East Texas and Santa Fe, N.M.. Their current album, ’Where the West Begins,” showcases cowboy-themed bluegrass, while their Christmas album blends classics with original songs.
To celebrate the season, the Wimberley Bluegrass Band will be performing holiday favorites Dec.19-21 with pianist Danny Thomas at Bethel Baptist Church in Santa Ana.
As they reflect on their success thus far, the Wimberleys agree that SCC was key in providing them the mentorship, support and early opportunities that helped them grow into the musicians and professionals they are today.
“Our experience at Chapman,” Mark said, “really could not have happened without our experience at SCC.”