Name: ¡Música del Corazón! El Acordeón in New Mexico’s Hispano Musical Traditions
Start: 2025-11-16T14:00:00-07:00
Location: Keller Hall

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¡Música del Corazón! El Acordeón in New Mexico’s Hispano Musical Traditions ~ 12th Annual John Donald Robb, Jr. Memorial Concert ~ Honoring the life and legacy of James Bonnell
FEATURING
*Carlos Medina
*Felix "Gato" Peralta & Lara Manzanares
*Miguelito Romero
*Giselle & Micky Cruz
*Raven Chacon ~ Robb Award
*other artists to be announced
SUNDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2025
*2pm talk
*3pm concert
*UNM Keller Hall
FREE ADMISSION
*family-friendly community celebration
*this is a non-ticketed event
*general seating: first come, first served
FREE PARKING
*City of ABQ street & meter parking
*UNM surface lot parking @Central between Girard & Princeton
*Convenient paid parking @UNM Cornell Parking Structure
ABOUT
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 community gatherings, dances, and celebrations, cementing its role in inter-generational 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.
~ Dr. Enrique Lamadrid, guest curator
~ Robert Lucero, guest curator
LEARN MORE
robbtrust.org