Music educator Dalia Razo, who earned master’s and doctoral degrees from UNC Greensboro, performed with her band d.a.l.i.a. at the 2026 N.C. Folk Festival in downtown Greensboro, UNC Greensboro reported. The band won this year’s “Not Your Average Folk” contest.
Razo’s set featured original bilingual songs that moved between English and Spanish, blending melodic passages with rap verses. She told the audience that language plays a major role in preserving culture, heritage and roots, and that the Spanish storytelling in her music is what makes it folk music.
UNC Greensboro reported that Razo began writing music in high school while studying classical piano at the UNC School of the Arts. She later enrolled at UNCG for a master’s degree in music education and stayed for the doctoral program with the goal of becoming a professor of music education. Teaching classes brought her back to instruments like ukulele and guitar, and she found herself writing music again after preparing for class.
The band’s festival performance included UNCG faculty member Scott Glasser on violin and alumni Zach Baker, Jennifer Aikey and Cameron Rabb on drums, electric bass and guitar. Razo said the project would not have started without UNCG.
Before the festival, Razo encouraged her students to attend the free downtown performances, calling the event a huge gift for the community. She said she values how different her students are and hopes they found inspiration in the festival’s diversity of music, cultures and stories.
For more information, visit uncg.edu.