The College of Charleston will host a one-night-only performance by world-renowned artist Fabiola Méndez and her quartet on April 2, 2026.
A singer, composer, poet and documentary producer, Méndez made history as the first-ever graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music to choose the Puerto Rican cuatro as a primary instrument. The cuatro is a traditional 10-stringed instrument, a relative of the guitar known for its bright, percussive resonance and its role as the "voice" of Puerto Rican countryside music.
While deeply rooted in the traditional sounds of trova and jíbaro music, Méndez has gained international acclaim for her ability to "play circles" around genre boundaries. Her quartet’s recent NPR Tiny Desk Concert showcased her sophisticated blend of folk and jazz, but it was her appearance backing up global icon Bad Bunny on his own Tiny Desk set that solidified her status as a bridge between ancestral tradition and modern global pop. During the concert, Bad Bunny acknowledges Méndez's talent, "¡Puedo estar tó el día escuchando eso!" ("I could listen to that all day long!").
“Fabiola's artistry and love for her culture shine through in a way that I know will captivate audiences even if they don't know anything about Puerto Rico and its music,” says Michael O'Brien, Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology. “Her work also has so much to offer to serious students across disciplines, from music to literature to Latin American and Caribbean Studies. She's drawing from and transforming traditional practices, she's speaking through music, poetry and even documentary filmmaking about issues central to Afro-Latino and boricua culture.”
The concert will feature repertoire from her acclaimed quartet, showcasing the technical rigor and emotional depth that has made her a sought-after collaborator for the likes of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
EVENT DETAILS: The performance will take place on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., in the Simons Center Recital Hall, 54 Saint Philip St., Charleston, S.C. 29401. General admission is $10 and free for CofC students and faculty and staff. Tickets may be purchased online through the George Street Box Office, at the door, by emailing gsbo@cofc.edu, or by calling (843) 953-4726. Information and ticket links are available at https://calendar.charleston.
The concert is presented by the College of Charleston's Department of Music; Department of Hispanic Studies; and Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program. A public Q&A with the musicians will take place on Friday, April 3 at 1:00 p.m., in Simons Center (room 357).
The event is presented with support from the Quattlebaum Artist-in-Residence Endowment. With its origin dating back to 1985, the College’s Quattlebaum Artists-
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Fabiola Méndez is a Puerto Rican cuatrista, singer, educator and Emmy-nominated composer whose work explores her culture, ancestry and identity. Born in Caguas, she began playing the cuatro at age six and later became the first Berklee College of Music graduate to use it as her principal instrument. Her mission centers on sharing the cuatro, Puerto Rican folk music and collective storytelling. Méndez has released four albums, with "Flora Campesina" named one of NPR Alt. Latino's top ten albums of 2024. She has collaborated with major artists and institutions including Bad Bunny, NPR Tiny Desk, the MET Museum, and the Chicago Philharmonic, as well as productions on Disney+, PBS Kids and HBO Max.