Conjunto Cuncumén is a Chilean folk music ensemble formed in 1955 by students at the University of Chile’s summer school under the guidance of Margot Loyola. The group became a pioneer in performing music and lyrics collected directly from researchers and rural communities. Directed initially by Rolando Alarcón and featuring notable members such as Víctor Jara, the ensemble established a influential vocal and instrumental aesthetic. Between 1955 and 1973, they released nine albums with Odeón Records as part of the collection El folclore de Chile, though a tenth recording was halted by the 1973 coup d'état. Following the military intervention, the group disbanded and members like Mariela Ferreira Sepúlveda went into exile. The ensemble resumed activity in Chile in 1992, subsequently releasing four albums under the Alerce label, including Puro Neruda in 2003. By 2015, the group had celebrated sixty years of activity with a total of 18 recorded albums.
