Conjunto museum to host ‘La Reina’

Special to the NEWS

Texas Folklife is inviting the public to San Benito’s Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum (TCMHFM), located at 402 West Robertson St., on June 15, 2024 at 6 p.m., where a special event is showcasing performances by the legendary La Reina Del Acordeón, Eva Ybarra, alongside her apprentice, Iliana Vásquez, as well as the esteemed Juan Longoria Jr., accompanied by his apprentice, Manuel “Manny” Tovar.

The evening will include a range of sound celebrating the rich traditions and cultural heritage of Conjunto music such as the intricate accordion melodies and the pulsating rhythms of the bajo sexto.

This event is made possible by the generous support of the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame. In a press release Texas Folklife officials said the TCMHFM’s commitment to preserving and promoting Conjunto music ensures that audiences have the opportunity to experience the magic of this unique musical genre.

“Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to witness the talents of La Reina Del Acordeón, Eva Ybarra, and Juan Longoria Jr., as they come together to celebrate Conjunto music at its finest,” the statement reads.
For ticket information, visit Eventbrite.com or contact TCMHFM President Patricia Avila at (956) 945-5005.

The TCMHFM has been a non-profit 501 © (3) organization since 2001 and is dedicated to promoting, archiving, documenting, and permanently displaying the history of Texas Conjunto regional folk music for the benefit of generations to come. Since its inception, the TCMHFM has inducted 93 artists into its hall of fame.

In 2023, the TCMHFM relocated from the San Benito Community Building to the Aztec building, located at 402 W. Robertson St. in the historic Robertson St. District.

In late April of last year, the hall of fame & museum was designated as a Blue Star Museum, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America, to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel including National Guard and Reserve and their families each summer.