The Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati and the Hispanic Chamber Foundation welcomed Fabiola Méndez during the 2026 Summermusik Festival. On August 13, 2026, Méndez met with members of Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati and board members of the Hispanic Chamber Foundation. A renowned Puerto Rican cuatrista, singer, educator, and Emmy-nominated composer, she visited Cincinnati to perform with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra in a program celebrating the music and culture of Puerto Rico.
Raised in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Méndez began playing the cuatro, Puerto Rico’s national instrument, at the age of six. She received her early musical training at the Antonio Paoli School of Music and later earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music. In 2018, she became the first Berklee graduate to perform the Puerto Rican cuatro as her principal instrument. Her original compositions explore Puerto Rican culture, heritage, and identity, earning her international recognition as one of the leading ambassadors of the instrument.
On August 15, 2026, A virtuoso performer whose admirers include global superstar Bad Bunny, Méndez joined the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra for a program dedicated to the Isla del Encanto (“Island of Enchantment”), Puerto Rico, at the School for Creative & Performing Arts. The concert featured Ernesto Cordero’s Concierto Criollo for Cuatro, a Cincinnati premiere, and Roberto Sierra’s Symphony No. 3, La Salsa, which celebrates Puerto Rico’s rich musical heritage. The program also included works by emerging composers Luis Quintana and Angélica Negrón. For tickets: ttps://summermusik.org/events-main/theislandofenchantment/
On August 16, Méndez will also participate in ¡Jangueo Boricua! at the Delhi Event Center. This family-friendly event featured traditional Puerto Rican music performed by Son del Caribe, new arrangements for string quartet and cuatro by Sonia Morales-Matos, and a pre-concert fiesta with local food and artisan vendors. The celebration offered Cincinnati audiences an immersive experience of Puerto Rican culture, music, and community. For tickets: https://summermusik.org/events-main/puertoricanhangout/
