Fabiola Mendez is a Puerto Rican cuatro player, singer, educator, and composer who has taken part in a musical movement, crossing over the lines of genres such as folkloric, jazz & Latin. Her musicality and original compositions take the listener on a journey through her identities and culture, while celebrating and exploring the versatility of the cuatro puertorriqueño.
Recognized for being the first student to graduate from Berklee College of Music with the cuatro as principal instrument (2018), Fabiola performs nationally and internationally and works as a composer for children’s shows Alma’s Way (PBS Kids) and Sesame Street’s Mecha Builders (HBO Max). As an educator, she presents lectures and workshops all around the USA, providing educational opportunities on topics around folk music and culture, racial and gender equity, and sustainability within artistic practices. She has received numerous awards, including the Quincy Jones Award for composition, WBUR’s ARTery 25, the Brother Thomas Fellowship, Whippoorwill Arts Fellowship, ASCAP Lucille and Jack Yellen Award 2022, and a motion from the Puerto Rican House of Representatives for her work and accomplishments as a cuatrista.