The following organizations from all over New Mexico have been awarded Music in the Community grants for 2025-5056.
Southwest Roots Music activities — which are free to the public — include live outreach with African drumming ensemble Agalu and other NM-based artists, as well as virtual performances by indigenous performers singing in their Native tongues.
Horizons of Albuquerque will use grant funds to expand our summer guitar program into a year-round initiative that offers guitar lessons to Horizons students in 4th-12th grades. This program will provide students opportunities to perform at community events. The funding will cover teacher salaries and the purchase of additional guitars and strings.
As part of the San Juan Symphony’s expanded education outreach in our 40th season, Inside the Orchestra will bring area 4th graders into the heart of the symphony on Monday, October 6, 2025, at Henderson Performance Hall. This interactive school-day concert features Respighi’s Pines of Rome and guided narration by conductor Thomas Heuser, offering students a rare, immersive experience with live symphonic music. The program aims to spark curiosity, foster musical understanding, and highlight the orchestra’s power to tell stories and build community
Carrizozo Music proudly presents Movable Sol Trio, in a captivating classical performance featuring cello, violin and piano. Performed by three highly accomplished New Mexican musicians overflowing with charm and charisma, this concert promises an evening of exquisite LIVE! music.
AfroMundo is thrilled to present “Fabiola Méndez in Concert” on Saturday, April 18, 2026, 7:00 pm at the South Broadway Cultural Center. Fabiola Méndez is an Emmy-nominated composer known for her mastery of the Puerto Rican cuatro (a five string instrument), and for her unique blend of genres, including folk, jazz, and Afro-Caribbean influences.
The New Mexico Music Commission grant will help Eastern New Mexico University preserve and promote the musical traditions of New Mexico by providing educational workshops for ENMU film students who will produce a concert film of Robert Mirabal’s recent performance at ENMU.
KMRD, Madrid’s community radio station, celebrates its 10th anniversary in the summer of 2025. In honor of the anniversary, KMRD is hosting a free all-day music festival at the Madrid ballpark on Saturday, August 23rd, noon-9pm, featuring live music as well as art, food, activities, and community resources.
The 2025 IndigenousWays Festival is a dynamic, two-part celebration of Indigenous music, culture, and community in Santa Fe, NM. On Friday, August 15 at the Santa Fe Railyard Water Tower (in collaboration with Lensic360) and Saturday, September 27 at the Santa Fe Railyard Performance Green, these free and accessible events feature live performances, storytelling, artisan booths, food vendors, interactive workshops, and ASL interpreters. The festival uplifts Indigenous voices while creating inclusive spaces for all to gather, heal, and celebrate through the power of art and tradition.
The Cibola Arts Council intends to use the grant for their Annual Day of the Dead Celebration / Ancestral Celebration with Mariachi Band and dance, November 2025, their Bayanihan, Filipino Cultural Extravaganza, a celebration of Culture, Unity & Pride. December 2025, and their Spring Concert features a local NM Band, Dusty Anvil – A celebration of Change. Spring 2026
The New Mexico Music Commission will support over 12 musicians for the Manzano Mountain Art Council‘s 25th anniversary Sunflower Festival. The Sunflower Festival is a community arts and music festival that brings over 3000 visitors, 50 artist vendors, music, food, and celebration to the small town of Mountainair, NM.”
The Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce, through its Feria Southside initiative, will use grant funding to hire local New Mexico musicians and cultural performance groups for its FY 25-26 events, including the Feria Southside Annual Celebration and Quarterly Mercados. This effort aims to provide culturally relevant entertainment to the underserved Hispanic, immigrant, and Spanish-speaking communities on Santa Fe’s Southside while promoting economic opportunities for local artists.
2024-20245 Grant Awardees:
AfroMundo: The weeklong, free AfroMundo Festival (in Albuquerque and online) brings together local musicians, artists, tradition-bearers, filmmakers, chefs, and others to explore Afro and Latin diaspora history and cultures, and to promote community well-being and advance equity, healing, joy, and hope.
Artesia MainStreet Arts and Cultural District: The Downtown Street Dance will create opportunities for local community members to enjoy free, family friendly musical events in an open and welcoming environment. Our goal is to foster a deep sense of belonging within our community while supporting local artists.
Aztec Museum Association: The Summer Concert Series will provide weekly, high-quality, free concerts in the Aztec Pioneer Village, bringing New Mexico musicians to the community for concerts all ages will enjoy. Summer 2025 will mark the 5th season for the Aztec Museum & Pioneer Village “Music at the Museum” concert series. These free public concerts in the museum’s nostalgic Pioneer Village showcase different eras of our diverse musical heritage.
Carrizozo Music.: We sponsor exceptional, live music in our beautiful, rural town where our concerts and projects provide what is often the only practical access to live entertainment for many locals.
Classical 95.5 KHFM: “The KHFM 10 at 10” is a series of 10 one-hour long live concert broadcasts, that feature local, world class classical musicians from within our community. Listeners are invited to request free seats to be a part of the live studio audience. We are proud to provide a platform for recognition of, and a work opportunity for musicians in our community.
Dolores Gonzales Elementary School: Our goal is for all of our children to learn to open themselves to the universal experience of music and to foster a deep appreciation of diverse musical styles and traditions. We want to expose them to live musical experiences so that they embody music and identify as musical beings. We invite families to attend performances, and the performers we invite typically have a parent / community member in the group as well.
El Morro Area Arts Council: Our Spring Music Festival serves as a vibrant celebration of local talent and community engagement. We feature a variety of local musicians and bands, offering a platform for them to showcase their music to a diverse audience. Recognizing that local schools have limited funding for music programs, we offer educational workshops and demonstrations during the festival.
IndigenousWays: The IndigenousWays Wisdom Circle will create music-centered opportunities for local communities by offering hybrid performances featuring NAI musicians and artists. These events will be held in Santa Fe, while also providing virtual access for global audiences, including D/HH communities through qualified ASL interpreters. By incorporating traditional music, oral storytelling, and cross-cultural dialogues, IWWC engages diverse groups to explore Indigenous wisdom and foster understanding.
Just Play: The music educational workshops create a space for all members of our community, children and adults alike, to connect with music in a simple, fun way. Supported workshops would focus on Taos-area Native and Hispano music traditions. Workshops are facilitated by curated musicians who contribute their knowledge and musical presence to foster a space for learning, supporting emerging creations, and comfortable experimenting.
Manzano Mountain Art Council: Funding from the New Mexico Music Commission will provide exciting opportunities for the communities of the Manzano Mountains to engage with and celebrate New Mexico’s vibrant musical traditions. This support will facilitate a Flamenco performance, along with an interactive dance workshop centered on traditional New Mexican folk dances. These events not only honor New Mexico’s rich cultural heritage but also promote community engagement and a deeper appreciation for the arts.
Music from Angel Fire: Music from Angel Fire hosts a two-week Summer Festival featuring classical and contemporary chamber music performed by talented professional musicians and conservatory students from Juilliard and Curtis with concerts in Taos, Raton, and Angel Fire. Music in Schools provides music education to students in economically disadvantaged, underserved, and rural communities, particularly in Taos and Colfax Counties in northern New Mexico.
Queen Bee Music Association: Two and a half years after the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire, folks are still dealing with cleanup efforts, insurance issues, and processing the trauma of the experience. Funding from New Mexico Music Commission will support free music programs in Mora, including monthly jams, guitar classes, and programs for youth hosted by nonprofits Queen Bee Music Association and Collins Lake Ranch.
Silver Consolidated Schools: For the 2024-2025 school year, Silver Consolidated Schools introduced a new music program for all 1,138 students in grades PreK–6. The district hired three full time music instructors to provide up to 60 minutes of instruction per class each week. Throughout the school year, all schools will showcase their music programs with various performances The grant will fund a PA system for each campus. This will ensure that all music programs are equally supported throughout the year, allowing parents and community members to fully enjoy and hear their children’s performances.