¡Música del Corazón! El Acordeón in New Mexico’s Hispano Musical Traditions ~ 12th Annual John Donald Robb, Jr. Memorial Concert
Sunday 16 November 2025
FREE family-friendly community event
2pm round table 3pm concert
UNM Keller Hall

Featuring
*Carlos Medina
* Felix “Gato” Peralta & Lara Manzanares
*Miguelito Romero
* Giselle & Micky Cruz
* Raven Chacon – 2025 Robb Award
* other artists to be announced

FREE City of ABQ street & meter parking. FREE UNM surface lot parking at Central between Girard and Princeton. Convenient paid parking at UNM Cornell Parking Structure.

The twelfth annual 2025 ¡Música del Corazón! concert produced by the John Donald Robb Musical Trust will celebrate the rich cultural legacy of the accordion in the development of Hispano music of the American Southwest, with a particular focus on New Mexico. The performance showcases the instrument’s journey from European roots to its prominent place in Nuevo Mexicano folk and popular music.

Through live performances, storytelling, and historical context, the show highlights how the accordion became the iconic instrument in regional genres such as rancheras, norteñas, polkas, and valses. These styles, embraced and adapted by New Mexico’s Hispano communities, reflect a blend of Indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo influences. The accordion’s portability and versatility made it a staple at communitygatherings, dances, and celebrations, cementing its role in intergenerational cultural expression.

Featured artists—ranging from tradition bearers to contemporary interpreters—demonstrate how the instrument continues to evolve while honoring its roots. The program also explores the influence of oral traditions, family lineages, and local innovations in sustaining this vibrant musical heritage.

¡Música del Corazón! El Acordeón in New Mexico’s Hispano Musical Traditions offers audiences an immersive, heartfelt experience that underscores the accordion’s enduring place in the musical soul of New Mexico.