ABOUT THE ARTIST

Squeezebox Man

Nicolás Ramiro Valdez is a San Antonio, Texas based interdiscplinary performance artist with over 20 years experience in cultural arts activism. His introduction to the stage came early when, at the age of 9, Nicolas was trained in traditional Conjunto music by master accordionist Valerio Longoria Sr. By the age of 15 he was an active member of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s youth theater company Grupo Animo, writing and performing in original staged works. His training continued at the University of Wisconsin Madison and later through the practical experience of working with other artists around the country. Over the years, Nicolas has developed his own unique style incorporating music, poetry and theater into culturally relevant performances that speak to the experiences of the communities along the US-Mexico border.