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Three Stars of the Puerto Rican Cuatro Open Pro Arte Musical’s Anniversary Season
Emma Colón Zayas, Maribel Delgado, and Fabiola Méndez will star in a journey through the tradition, virtuosity, and innovation of our national instrument.
San Juan, Puerto Rico | September 2026 — Pro Arte Musical will inaugurate its 2026-2027 Concert Season and kick off the celebration of its 95th Anniversary with Three Women, Three Stars… of the Puerto Rican Cuatro, on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., at the Pablo Casals Symphony Hall of the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center, in Santurce.
The concert will bring together on the same stage Emma Colón Zayas, Maribel Delgado, and Fabiola Méndez, three masters who represent different generations and styles of the Puerto Rican cuatro. The performance will honor women’s contribution to music through a sound journey connecting the seises, aguinaldos, and guarachas of the rural tradition with danza, baroque music, jazz, and Afro-Latin and contemporary fusions.
Emma Colón Zayas, a pioneer of country folk music, paved the way for new generations of female cuatro players and has taken Puerto Rican music to international stages. Her participation will honor the popular roots of the instrument with works such as Casa Forte, Aires de mi patria, Capullito de alelí, and Mambo. “I am honored to be part of the opening concert for Pro Arte Musical’s 95th Anniversary season. Sharing the stage with two great Puerto Rican cuatristas will be a joy and a celebration of our cultural identity,” expressed Colón Zayas.
Maribel Delgado will bring the virtuosity and elegance that distinguish her work spanning folklore and chamber music, highlighting her important role as a professor in teaching the instrument. Her repertoire will include a classic-Boricua medley, Matambú, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, and Idilio, by Alberto “Tití” Amadeo Rivera. “Being part of the start of this anniversary season is a privilege and an artistic responsibility. Celebrating Pro Arte Musical’s legacy alongside such admired and talented cuatristas will be an honor and a historic concert,” stated Delgado.
Fabiola Méndez will embody the avant-garde and fusion by bringing the cuatro into dialogue with jazz, Afro-Latin rhythms, and contemporary trova. She will perform her own compositions such as Cielo campesino, Bomba pa’ la diáspora, 17 de julio, and Maestra madera, expanding through her participation the sonic possibilities of an instrument deeply tied to Puerto Rican cultural identity. “It fills me with joy that Pro Arte Musical is launching its season celebrating our music and the role of Puerto Rican women in its evolution. It is a great privilege to share the stage with two masters of the cuatro who have inspired my career, and whom I am blessed to call colleagues and friends today,” noted Fabiola Méndez.
The evening will begin with the three cuatristas performing “El Cumbanchero” by Rafael Hernández. They will also share a vignette dedicated to the family of native chordophone instruments—the cuatro, the tiple, and the bordonúa—and the danza Lo que yo quiero (Añoranza) by Rafi Escudero, featuring guest artist Mónica Plácido on vocals. The performance will culminate with El Barrilito and Seis chorreao, followed by a jíbaro aguinaldo as an encore.
Three Women, Three Stars… of the Puerto Rican Cuatro offers a bridge between memory and the future: honoring those who paved the way, celebrating performance excellence, and reaffirming the prominent role of women in the history and evolution of the Puerto Rican cuatro.
For more information about the concerts of the 2026-2027 Season and available commemorative memberships, you can contact Pro Arte Musical at (787) 722-3366 or email proarte@proartemusical.com. Tickets are on sale at Ticketera, TicketCenter, and the Fine Arts Center box office.