About Mercedes Mendive
Biography
Mercedes began her musical journey around the age of eight. She began playing piano and tinkering with various instruments until a chance happening led her on a path to playing piano accordion beginning at the age of ten. She was taught how to play the accordion by the incomparable Bernardo Yanci (Lesaka, Basque Country), who worked with her for several years teaching her technique with a particular focus on Basque genre. Mercedes has traveled to a multitude of venues in the United States and abroad. She has performed at the prestigious International Accordion Festival in San Antonio, Texas, as well as a week-long performance with bandmates Kenny Harriman, Janet Iribarne and Beau Stewart during the Western Folk
Life Center's Basques and Buckaroos Cowboy Poetry (2017). Mercedes has traveled to Washington D.C. where she performed twice for the Smithsonian during their cultural event in 2016 (a solo performance for their first Txotx event, and with the Elko Arinak Basque Dancers). Most recently she and fellow musician Kenny Harriman were featured musicians in the Kennedy Center Arts Across America tour in September 2020. Mercedes spends a good part of her summers traveling throughout Nevada, Idaho, Utah and California for various performances at Basque Festivals.
