Eva Ybarra

Eva Ybarra, known professionally as “La Reina del Acordeón” (“The Queen of Accordion”), is a venerated conjunto accordionist, band leader, and music educator. Ybarra hails from San Antonio, Texas. Eva began her musical journey at the age of four when she received her first accordion. A self-taught accordionist, she picked up most of the early tunes she learned how to play by listening to the radio.

Known for her progressive style of conjunto music, Ybarra takes her fans through a blend of conjunto, mariachi, and to the edge of jazz with a passion that translates across generations. Her powerful voice and soul-playing accordion style have made her a legend in conjunto music. Ybarra’s contributions to conjunto go beyond the stage as she has also been a dedicated music educator for many years. She served as an Artist-in-Residence at the University of Washington (Seattle, WA). Ybarra’s contributions to the San Antonio music scene are immesurable as she has been an instructor for many staple conjunto programs across the city. Over her storied career, Ybarra has received numerous lifetime achievement recognitions and is a multi-time Hall-of-Famer. Her career has even been immortalized via playscript. In 2015, “La Reina del Acordeón: Eva Ybarra’s Life on Stage” was sold out throughout the entirety of its run. In 2017, the National Endowment for the Arts named Ybarra a National Heritage Fellow. Ybarra was chosen to represent the state of Texas as the 2022 Texas State Musician. Eva is currently the bandleader, accordionist and lead vocalist for Eva Ybarra Y Su Conjunto Siempre.

It is my great honor to be recognized as a Taproot Artist. I am humbled to be recognized by such a program that recognizes individuals who are exceptional at their practice and humbly serve their communities. I am elated to be among this outstanding group of artists.