351. Interview with Monte Briggs, Marty, South Dakota (06:06)

Date:
2020-10-06
Main contributors:
Monte Briggs
Summary:
Monte Briggs (Marty, South Dakota) Guitar player Monte Briggs lives in Marty, South Dakota. His mother is from the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Pine Ridge, and his father is from the Standing Rock Reservation. He grew up in a musical family and learned to play music from his uncle, who also taught many musicians in the Black Hill area. Monte was passionate about playing music since he was a child. With his brother, Robert Briggs, he plays and tours extensively with their group Still River, which in 2016 regrouped as Stones of Red, a high-energy group with haunting, soulful vocals and musicianship. With the release of their album Arianna Rain, Stones of Red showcase their ability to meld various genres and create vintage sounds with a whole lot of soul. The album was released and immediately gained traction within the blues and blues rock communities. To this day, the track “Arianna Rain” plays on major radio stations across America. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 10/06/2020.

352. Interview with Reggie Padilla, Honolulu, Hawaii (05:34)

Date:
2020-09-14
Main contributors:
Reggie Padilla
Summary:
Reggie Padilla (Honolulu, Hawaii) Saxophonist, pianist, composer, and educator Reggie Padilla was born and raised in Long Island, NY. He began his musical journey at the age of seven on the piano, and by nine, began studying the saxophone as well. While studying classical piano, Reggie was also exposed to a wide variety of music. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Classical Piano Performance from Long Island University at C.W. Post, and a master’s degree in Music Education from New York University. In January 2007, Reginald relocated to Honolulu, Hawaii, and continued his musical journey. Reggie continues to perform and record around the world on both tenor saxophone and piano. He has a private lesson studio, teaching both saxophone, piano, classical, jazz, theory, and improvisation. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 09/14/2020.

353. Interview with Rebecca Whitney, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (06:41)

Date:
2020-09-09
Main contributors:
Rebecca Whitney
Summary:
Rebecca Whitney (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) Director of Education of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Rebecca Whitney, tells us about the different ways MSO has managed its programming during the COVID-19 pandemic in both regular season concert activity and education programs such as the Arts in Community Education (ACE) program, a nationally acclaimed program that enhances students’ total education through the integration of music and other art forms into the overall curriculum; MSO concerts for schools; and Bach Double Violin Competition in which winners perform with the MSO on the ACE concert series. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 09/09/2020.

354. Interview with Ricardo Lemvo, Los Angeles, California (06:00)

Date:
2020-09-30
Main contributors:
Ricardo Lemvo
Summary:
Ricardo Lemvo (Los Angeles, California) Ricardo Lemvo has established himself as a pioneer with his innovative music. Lemvo's blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms with pan-African styles (soukous, Angolan semba, and kizomba) has been described as seamless and infectious. This Congo-born artist of Angolan ancestry is the embodiment of the Afro-Latin Diaspora which connects back to Mother Africa via the Cuban clave rhythm. Lemvo is truly multicultural and equally at home singing in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Lingala, and Kikongo. Lemvo hails from São Salvador Do Congo (M'Banza-Kongo), Zaire, in Northern Angola. He grew up in Congo-Kinshasa, where he was introduced to Cuban music by a cousin who owned a large collection of vintage Cuban LPs. Lemvo came to the US more than thirty years ago to pursue a law degree but ended up devoting his life to music. Since forming his Los Angeles-based band Makina Loca in 1990, Lemvo has refined his craft and vision, raising his joyous voice with strength and inspiring his audiences to let loose and dance away their worries. Through the years, Lemvo has performed countless shows in many festivals, night clubs, and performing art centers throughout Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Australia. Lemvo's seven CDs have been enthusiastically acclaimed worldwide. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 09/30/2020.

355. Interview with Rhoda Ethelbah-Case, Whiteriver, Arizona (06:41)

Date:
2020-11-07
Main contributors:
Rhoda Ethelbah-Case
Summary:
Rhoda Ethelbah-Case (Whiteriver, Arizona) Born and raised in the White Mountain Apache Reservation, Rhoda grew up the child of musicians Matthew J. Kane (Midnite) and wife Lee Kane. Midnite and Lee founded the band Apache Spirit and performed together for forty-seven years, covering the entire southwestern United States and playing a variety of different venues. They recorded fifteen albums and won the First Country Folk category for the Native American musical awards. Today, as a family band, Apache Spirit livens casino, club and rodeo audiences and dance floors with their hefty mix of country, Native Contemporary Originals, Oldies but Goodies, Rock N’ Roll and Blues. Currently she is the leader, background vocalist, keyboard, and drummer for Apache Spirit, Chris Kane Trio, and Lady Krow Roadshow & Rez Rootz. Currently, Rhoda manages and is the vocalist, keyboard, and drummer for Apache Spirit, Chris Kane Trio, and Lady Krow Roadshow & Rez Rootz. She is also a motivational speaker. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 11/07/2020.

356. Interview with Oscar Chirinos, Ogden, Utah (05:18)

Date:
2020-10-14
Main contributors:
Oscar Chirinos
Summary:
Oscar Chirinos (Ogden, Utah) Oscar Chirinos has been playing flamenco guitar since he was a little child. Born in Lima, Peru, his family moved to United States when he was nine. He picked up his passion for flamenco from his Spanish grandfather, a guitar player himself. He now lives in Ogden, Utah, where he works for an advertisement company so that he can pursue his passion, music. In 2019, Oscar and Romina Notaro formed the flamenco fusion band AmoRoma along with Rodrigo (percussion), Jaesi (violin), and Barbara (dancer). Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 10/14/2020

357. Interview with the Gypsy Cowbelle, Thermopolis, Wyoming (06:12)

Date:
2020-10-13
Main contributors:
The Gypsy Cowbelle
Summary:
The Gypsy Cowbelle (Thermopolis, Wyoming) Whether she’s building a banjo, riding the Divide, singing around a campfire, floating the Grand, or hitchhiking across America, this little gal is doing her best to seize Life’s Rich Pageant. Miss “V,” as she is also known, has balanced her back-country experiences with countless asphalt tours, seeking enlightenment through solitude as well as through her interactions with people from all walks of life. A knack for recognizing the humor in everyday life, an appreciation for history, a hunger for adventure, and a ceaseless sense of creativity collectively establish Miss V’s unique perspective and personality. Her experiences, free spirit, clever lyricism, and classic rhythms on the guitar and her homemade banjo blend together to create her signature “Genuine Cowbilly” music. This Gypsy Cowbelle and her music possess a universal and timeless allure that has charmed fans from coffee houses and campfires to festivals and honky tonks across America for nearly two decades. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 10/13/2020.

358. Interview with Ricky Carrido, Albuquerque, New Mexico (06:09)

Date:
2020-09-30
Main contributors:
Ricky Carrido
Summary:
Ricky Carrido (Albuquerque, New Mexico) Ricardo (“Ricky”) Carrido learned to play flute and Latin percussion from his father, Romeo Carrido, as well as Afro-Cuban traditional master drummers from Cuba. He has performed and recorded with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Jessica Simpson, Alfredo de La Fe, Chuchito Valdez, Chucho Valdez, Pete Escovedo, Charanga Cubana, B-side Players, and Poncho Sanchez, among others. As of the winter of 2008, Ricky Carrido became a sworn batá drummer (Omo Añá, or child of Añá, the deity that lives in the batá drum) from the batá set by the name Obbá koso that belongs to the Obbá Enrique Barriero, from Mantanzas, Cuba. Ricky resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he teaches Afro-Cuban Folklore Drumming at the New Mexico Jazz Workshop along with his father, leads the Cuban band called Luna Llena, and plays with the group Son como Son. Ricky is also active as a private instructor. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 09/30/2020.

359. Interview with Sims Delaney-Potthoff, Madison, Wisconsin (06:02)

Date:
2020-09-02
Main contributors:
Sims Delaney-Potthoff
Summary:
Sims Delaney-Potthoff (Madison, Wisconsin) Mandolin virtuoso and vocalist Sims Delaney-Potthoff is one of the founding members of the multi-award-winning trio, Harmonious Wail. The group plays Americana-infused Gypsy Jazz and takes their listeners on a ride via the music of the Hot Club sounds of Parisian cafes, to the deepest blues of the Memphis Delta, to the heartfelt folk scenes across every-town-America. This harmonious clique are sublime entertainers, great educators, and lifters of spirits. As stewards of the Gypsy Jazz genre, they have established the Midwest Gypsy Swing Fest, held twice a year in Madison, Wisconsin.  They also offer to take the fest on the road as a special concert package. They have mastered a plan on how to bring amazing Gypsy Jazz All Stars from around the world and place them in front of concert audiences throughout the United States. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 09/02/2020.

360. Interview with Taide Pineda, Phoenix, Arizona (05:33)

Date:
2020-10-06
Main contributors:
Taide Pineda
Summary:
Taide Pineda (Phoenix, Arizona) Taide Pineda has been playing the guitar since high school and has been involved in the Phoenix local music scene with many well-known working bands for over 15 years. He’s a cutting-edge sole artist. He is one of the founding members of Highest Conspiracy, a band that mixes reggae, rock and roll, hip hop, and pop music in their original work. With a core group of musicians and the creation of Conspiracy Horns, which is a full two-piece horn section, Highest Conspiracy has created a following that has surpassed the normal media buzz. Taide released his first solo album, Big Dreams, in May 2020. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 10/06/2020.

361. Interview with Roy Bosh, Salt Lake City, Utah (06:00)

Date:
2020-10-15
Main contributors:
Roy Bosh
Summary:
Roy Bosh (Salt Lake City, Utah) Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, percussionist Roy Bosh moved to United States when he was eleven years old. He got involved in percussion at an early age and later learned Latin percussion on his own. He grew up listening to Latin music, salsa, merengue, bachata, as well as African rhythms, some of the genres he loves to play. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he plays with a number of groups. Roy is also working on documentaries with dancers and Afro musicians in the community, and is back at college working on two master’s degrees. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 10/15/2020.

362. Interview with Stevie Ray Vavages, San Antonio, Texas (05:58)

Date:
2020-09-14
Main contributors:
Stevie Ray Vavages
Summary:
Stevie Ray Vavages (San Antonio, Texas) Stevie Vavages grew up in Anegam, Tohono O'odham Nation on the Arizona/Mexico border. He comes from a musical family. His grandfather used to play with a group of old-time fiddlers called Gu-achi fiddlers that played Waila music—Waila being the term Tohono O’odham indigenous people use for their instrumental music. His father and uncle were musicians as well: “My uncle taught me for a month and after that month of practicing bajo sexto I had my first gig,” Stevie says. He moved to San Antonio, Texas, in 2017 to fulfill his dream of making a living playing Tejano conjunto music. His big surprise was to realize that many of the music the Tejano conjuntos were playing was music that he has learned from his grandfather. That and the realization of playing with musicians he grew up admiring. Stevie is a very talented bajo sexto player and superb musician who also plays accordion, bass, and drums. He has become a fixture in San Antonio’s Tex-Mex music scene and plays with artists such as Bobby Pulido, Belén Escobedo, and Flavio Longoria to say a few. He feels rooted into the community. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 09/14/2020.

363. Interview with Toni Hickman, Houston, Texas (04:59)

Date:
2020-09-28
Main contributors:
Toni HIckman
Summary:
Toni Hickman (Houston, Texas) She is not only a talented singer-songwriter, but the survivor of two brain aneurysms and a stroke. Toni is an accomplished artist, speaker, author, certified naturopath, and performer who has traveled throughout the United States encouraging people to live up to their highest self.Toni is an author, hip hop artist, and public speaker on disabilities, beauty, and foods. She uses her voice and music to inspire others. She has been featured on the Deborah Duncan Show and Radio One and featured in Shape magazine and several other publications throughout the world. She has spoken at numerous colleges and other organizations on subjects of depression and recovery; physical, mental, and spiritual health; living one’s purpose; chemicals in beauty products; and a host of other subjects. She is a speaker/performer for YoungStroke and the American Heart Association, an author, artist, Certified Naturopath, mother, and activist. As a survivor who knows no limits, she lives to its fullest potential and uses music as a tool for empowerment and healing. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 09/28/2020.

364. Interview with Valerie Troutt, Oakland, California (05:59)

Date:
2020-08-31
Main contributors:
Valerie Troutt
Summary:
Valerie Troutt (Oakland, California) Composer Valerie Troutt sings soulful, conscious originals inspired by her relationships with family, community, and hope for a brighter tomorrow. Bay Area-born and bred, jazz and gospel trained, and internationally respected, Valerie Troutt is a musical collagist, borrowing from ancestral centuries of sound, channeling spirits, and delivering the stories of our love, loss, and lives. There’s a light in this unapologetically unconventional artist/teacher/activist for whom art and activism are intertwined. Within this spiritual and social justice-driven performer is a lifelong hunger for craft, connection, and cultural narratives and an indefatigable thirst to serve as an agape griot to a waiting and hurting people. The Sound of Peace, her long-awaited, full-length debut comes after a critically acclaimed EP and several wizening years culminating in Valerie Troutt’s acceptance of her own original artistic difference in a world of commercial carbon copies. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 08/31/2020.

365. Interview with Akua Naru, Boston, Massachusetts (06:06)

Date:
2020-09-24
Main contributors:
Akua Naru
Summary:
Akua Naru (Boston, Massachusetts) Akua Naru is a Hip Hop artist, organizer, producer, activist, and scholar whose work centers social justice advocacy and community building. Her music theorizes the myriad experiences of Black women through rhyme along a sonic spectrum from Jazz to Soul. She is co-founder of the production/management company The Urban Era and has released multiple albums alongside a wide range of additional artistic content. She has recorded with artists including Tony Allen, Angelique Kidjo, Questlove, and Georgia Anne Muldrow. Akua has performed internationally in more than fifty countries across five continents with her six-piece band. In her social justice work, she has collaborated with numerous individuals and organizations globally in order to instigate change. Akua Naru was a Nasir Jones Fellow at the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University (2018-19) and a Race & Media Fellow at the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America at Brown University (2019-2020). Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/24/2020.

366. Interview with Tito Matos, Santurce, Puerto Rico (06:34)

Date:
2020-10-06
Main contributors:
Tito Matos
Summary:
Tito Matos (Santurce, Puerto Rico) Percussionist and singer Héctor “Tito” Matos is a native of Santurce, Puerto Rico. He is considered one of the best requinto plena drum players of his generation and he is the director and lead singer of Viento de Agua, a Puerto Rican Latin dance band that combines traditional Afro-Puerto Rican rhythms, Bomba and Plena, with other Afro-Caribbean musical styles as well as Jazz. Tito has taken the Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena to four continents and to important stages such as Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall. He is also the musical director of Bomba and Plena group, La Máquina Insular. Both groups pay tribute to the great masters from whom Tito learned to play. He is very active as an educator. His non-profit organization, Taller Comunidad La Goyco, is a community project working on the development and creation of education, culture, and health programs to which Tito and his wife are very dedicated. La Goyco is devoted to the development and creation of education, culture, and health programs. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 10/06/2020.

367. Interview with Zachariah Julian, Albuquerque, New Mexico (05:55)

Date:
2020-09-15
Main contributors:
Zachariah Julian
Summary:
Zachariah Julian (Albuquerque, New Mexico) Zachariah Julian (Jicarilla) has produced the We Are the Seeds stage since its inception. He curates programs that are diverse, balanced, interesting, and entertaining. A musician and performer, he is knowledgeable in production and stage management. He has lived on the Apache Nation for nineteen years and has been playing piano for over 20 years. Zachariah started composing when he was sixteen and attended University of New Mexico majoring in Music Theory and Composition. He has just released a CD called These Marked Trees. Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 09/15/2020.

368. Interview with Vincent Fuh, Madison, Wisconsin (06:08)

Date:
2020-09-18
Main contributors:
Vincent Fuh
Summary:
Vincent Fuh (Madison, Wisconsin) Vincent Fuh, an active pianist in the Madison classical and jazz communities since 1983, has appeared with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Bach Dancing Dynamite Society, Oakwood Chamber Players, Sound Ensemble Wisconsin, Madison Chamber Choir, Madison Choral Project, LunART Festival, Fresco Opera, and Opera for the Young. Since 1997, he has toured extensively with Opera for the Young, an arts outreach organization dedicated to encouraging student participation in fully staged operas at schools throughout the Midwest. Crossing genres, he was pianist and writer/arranger for salsa band Madisalsa and Afro-Cuban quintet El Clan Destino. He joined University of Wisconsin School of Music professors on five CDs, three with Mark Hetzler (trombone), one each with Marc Vallon (bassoon) and Tom Curry (tuba). His other CD collaborations include Laura Medisky (oboe), Patrick Hines (horn), Matthew Onstad (trumpet), Thomas Pfotenhauer (trumpet), and Charles Tibbets (horn). Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 09/18/2020.

369. Interview with Aria Arus, Raleigh, North Carolina (05:57)

Date:
2020-10-06
Main contributors:
Aria Arus
Summary:
Aria Arus (Raleigh, North Carolina) Aria Arus is a DJ, producer, and biochemist in Raleigh, North Carolina. Biochemist by day, by night she is Neuron Husky, her psyberpunk canine alter ego. Neuron Husky blends genres of drum and bass, psytrance, hardstyle, and future bass. She has performed in venues ranging from music festivals to burns to anime conventions. She has held several residencies at clubs throughout central North Carolina, has performed in Japan and Thailand, and has played alongside renowned artists such as Jackal & Hyde, Fixx, DJ Irene, DJ Micro, John B, Apashe, Space Jesus, and many others. Starting in 2015, Neuron Husky gained recognition as both electronic musician and installation artist, designing her own performance stages. She is backed up by the artist collaborative Source Code Studios, which specializes in constructing immersive psychedelic landscapes around the dance floor. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/06/2020.

370. Interview with Anna Borges, Medford, Massachusetts (05:32)

Date:
2020-09-27
Main contributors:
Anna Borges
Summary:
Anna Borges (Medford, Massachusetts) Anna Borges, originally from Recife, Pernambuco, began her career in Brasília, singing in local nightclubs and theaters. She studied the guitar and enrolled in the Escola de Música de Brasília, where she studied voice with Jane Duboc and sang in choral groups, studying both classical and popular techniques. After many years working closely with Brazilian guitarist Agilson Alcântara, Anna moved to Boston, Massachusetts along with her father, who was stationed there as a vice-consul in the Brazilian Consulate. In Boston, she began a musical collaboration with Bill Ward, with whom she would start the band Receita de Samba. The band performs bossa nova and samba, and well as regional specialties such as forró, ijexá, and coco. Anna is also an event promoter for Brazilian music in the Boston area with her own Sounds of Brazil Anna Borges Productions. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/27/2020.

371. Interview with Arnetta Johnson, Camden, New Jersey (05:56)

Date:
2020-10-08
Main contributors:
Arnetta Johnson
Summary:
Arnetta Johnson (Camden, New Jersey) Arnetta Johnson is a trumpet player based in Camden, New Jersey. Johnson began playing trumpet at age thirteen with mentors Nasir Dickerson, Jamal Dickerson, and Hassan Sabree. She attended the Creative and Performing Arts High School in Camden, followed by Berklee College of Music. Johnson has performed with Beyoncé at the Super Bowl, as a featured trumpeter on her 2018 On the Run II Tour, and on the Carters’ Grammy-winning album Everything Is Love. She has toured internationally and performed on television shows including Black Girls Rock. Johnson has also studied with saxophonist Tia Fuller and singer-poet Jill Scott, whose Blues Babe Foundation presented Johnson with their Rising Star Award. Johnson has worked with musicians including Terri Lyne Carrington, the Roots, and Chloe x Halle, and leads her own band Arnetta Johnson and SUNNY (Sounds Uplifting Nobility through Notes and Youth). Her goal is to stand jazz on its head: disrupt, uplift, and inspire. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/8/2020

372. Interview with Alonzo Demetrius, Morristown, New Jersey (05:51)

Date:
2020-10-08
Main contributors:
Alonzo Demetrius
Summary:
Alonzo Demetrius (Morristown, New Jersey) Alonzo Demetrius Ryan Jr. is a trumpeter, composer, and bandleader. He was classically trained in trumpet pedagogy and has studied at the historic Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz. In 2014 he obtained a B.M. from the Berklee College of Music, and in 2019 received his MM from the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. He has taught masterclasses domestically and abroad at Berklee College of Music, IMEP Paris College of Music, Music Academy International, Fundación Danilo Perez, and beyond. Alonzo is the founder and bandleader of the band The Ego, which has performed throughout the New England and New York metropolitan areas since the fall of 2017. He has worked with musicians including Terence Blanchard, Terri Lyne Carrington, Ralph Peterson Jr., Tia Fuller, Robert Glasper, and Jason Palmer. His album Live from the Prison Nation (The Onyx Productions Music Label, 2020) is his personal form of protest against the Prison Industrial Complex. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/08/2020.

373. Interview with Angelica Garcia, Richmond, Virginia (06:00)

Date:
2020-10-29
Main contributors:
Angelica Garcia
Summary:
Angelica Garcia (Richmond, Virginia) Angelica Garcia is a songwriter and vocalist based in Richmond, Virginia. Growing up in a musical and multigenerational environment, Garcia recalls Mexican ranchera music always playing throughout her home, which included Garcia’s mother, who was a professional singer of mostly mariachi and Latin pop. Garcia attended the magnet high school LACHSA (Los Angeles County High School for the Arts). In Richmond, she has released studio albums including Medicine For Birds (2016) and Cha Cha Palace (2020), both with Spacebomb Records. She released several music videos, and her song “Jícama” became widely known when Barack Obama selected the track for his 2019 year-end list. Her music explores Latinx identity and her roots in Los Angeles, and she has donated proceeds from her work to regionally based organizations supporting migrant families in the U.S. such as ¡MIRA!, Annunciation House, and Immigrant Families Together. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/29/2020

374. Interview with Annalisa Boerner, New Haven, Connecticut (05:54)

Date:
2020-09-28
Main contributors:
Annalisa Boerner
Summary:
Annalisa Boerner (New Haven, Connecticut) Annalisa Boerner is a violist and educator based in New Haven, Connecticut. As Senior Resident Violist at Haven String Quartet/Music Haven, she teaches music to youth in the New Haven community and plays with the resident quartet. Before Music Haven, she held a Community Music Works fellowship in Providence, R.I., where she performed as a member of the Community Music Works Players and taught a full studio. During her time there, Annalisa was part of world premiere performances of music by Gonzalo Grau and Kareem Roustom. She has collaborated with such artists as the Kronos Quartet, the Cavani String Quartet, the Claremont Trio, and members of the Cleveland Orchestra in concert. Annalisa earned her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music and has performed with various orchestras throughout New England and Ohio.  Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/28/2020.

375. Interview with Aline Mukiza, Burlington, Vermont (05:59)

Date:
2020-10-14
Main contributors:
Aline Mukiza
Summary:
Aline Mukiza (Burlington, Vermont) Aline Mukiza is a dancer, musician, and community organizer based in Burlington, Vermont. Mukiza was born in Burundi and moved to Vermont in the state’s refugee resettlement program. She is a master artist of Burundian women’s dance and traditional song in the Vermont Folklife Center’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. Mukiza is the director of Twibukanye, where she teaches Burundian music and dance to young adult women and girls in Chittenden County. She has worked with the Vermont Folklife Center to develop and expand pedagogies and materials for cultural education in her community. Additionally, Mukiza has worked as a multilingual liaison for the Burlington School District and a family service coordinator at the Vermont Family Network. She has also served as coordinator of the Heritage Learning Program, a project of the Burundian American Association of Vermont, which provides language, science, and culture classes to children. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/14/20.

376. Interview with Ashley Frith, Providence, Rhode Island (05:53)

Date:
2020-11-02
Main contributors:
Ashley Frith
Summary:
Ashley Frith (Providence, Rhode Island) Ashley Frith is a musician, composer, and educator based in Providence, Rhode Island. Ashley studied viola with Lila Brown at The Boston Conservatory. She was the music director, composer, and lyricist for the Trinity Repertory Company’s 2018-19 season production of Jose Rivera’s Marisol, directed by Brian Mertes. She has composed music for a production on allyship with Off the Page Education in NYC. Ashley has held resident musician and teaching artist positions with Newport String Project, Revolution of Hope, the Greater Miami Youth Symphony, and Community Music Works in Providence, Rhode Island. At Community Music Works, she serves as Director of Racial Equity and Belonging, where she performs, teaches, and develops anti-racism curricula. Ashley also explores the use of sound as a healing modality, in combination with mindfulness practices, and the effect these tools can have on mental health. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 11/02/2020.

377. Interview with Babar Harrie, Troy, Michigan (05:59)

Date:
2020-10-06
Main contributors:
Babar Harrie
Summary:
Babar Harrie (Troy, Michigan) Hailing from an American-Pakistani background, artist Babar Harrie combines his identity and experiences with his passion for music. Born in Lansing, Michigan, and raised in Metro Detroit, Babar first began rapping and freestyling at the age of 16. In the fall of 2010, Babar released his first mixtape, Just Let Me, which garnered him increased recognition. Following the mixtape, he released a number of music videos which gained hundreds of thousands of views through different viewing platforms. Releasing two more mixtapes over the course of two years, November and OCD: Opening Closed Doors respectively, Babar began performing at a variety of local venues. In 2013, he started working alongside Takeover Music Group (TOMG) with MTV artists like Trigg da Kidd and Fuco Bunkin. After taking time off and making a pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca in 2014, Babar’s music started to further incorporate his culture and religion in order to reach audiences worldwide. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/06/2020.

378. Interview with Bradley Simmons, Durham, North Carolina (05:56)

Date:
2020-09-25
Main contributors:
Bradley Simmons
Summary:
Bradley Simmons (Durham, North Carolina) Bradley Simmons is a performer and educator of Afro-Cuban and African percussion based in Durham, North Carolina. A native of New York City, he started playing at age nine, and became a sought after Conguero and shekere player for community and religious events. Bradley has played on Broadway plays including Timbuktu with Eartha Kitt and Melba Moore and Billy Wilson’s version of Guys and Dolls starring Robert Guillame. He has performed in nightclubs with musicians including Eartha Kitt, Gregory and Maurice Hines, and Oba Babatunde, and has recorded and played with the Fatback Band and with drummer Norman Connors. Bradley is the former Music Director of the Chuck Davis African-American Dance Ensemble and has taught throughout the United States. Bradley is a Musical Director at Duke University where he teaches West African and Afro-Cuban music. He is the leader of the percussion ensemble Elements of Percussion, which tours locally and nationally. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/25/2020.

379. Interview with Aubrey Atwater, Warren, Rhode Island (05:58)

Date:
2020-10-29
Main contributors:
Aubrey Atwater
Summary:
Aubrey Atwater (Warren, Rhode Island) Aubrey Atwater is a musician, vocalist, writer, public radio commentator, and dancer based in Warren, Rhode Island. Atwater presents programs of folk music, dance, and spoken word, and has performed and taught across the United States as well as England, Ireland, and Canada. She sings and plays the mountain dulcimer, old-time banjo, guitar, mandolin, and Irish tin whistle, and also performs with percussive clogging. In both teaching and performance, Aubrey conveys the heritage behind traditional folk music and dance, showing an expertise of folk history and its key players. Part of the acclaimed duo Atwater-Donnelly, Aubrey and her husband Elwood Donnelly perform with up to eight other band members and have thirteen recordings and six books to their credit. Atwater and Donnelly are both on the performing rosters for the Rhode Island State Council of the Arts and the New England Foundation for the Arts. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/29/2020.

380. Interview with Caique Vidal, Greensboro, North Carolina (05:59)

Date:
2020-10-14
Main contributors:
Caique Vidal
Summary:
Caique Vidal (Greensboro, North Carolina) Caique Vidal is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and educator based in Greensboro, North Carolina. Born in Salvador, Bahia, he is steeped in the Afro-Brazilian tradition. One of his first performances took place with the ensemble of the Olodum Mirin project, participating in Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us” (1993). Vidal studied at the Liceu de Artes e Oficios da Bahia and toured with the Balé Folclórico da Bahia. He participated in Mikael Mutti’s project Percussivo Mundo Novo. He has performed nationally and internationally, sharing the stage with artists including Suzana Baca, Carlinhos Brown, and Gilberto Gil. In 2012, Vidal moved to North Carolina, where he has taught Afro-Brazilian music and culture to professional musicians, publics school students, and universities. He leads the band Batuque, which uses Afro-Brazilian percussion in various contexts. Batuque has performed at venues including the Art of Cool-NC, Afro-Bahia Festival-NC, and Hardee’s Festival-VA. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/14/2020.

381. Interview with Brandon Woody, Baltimore, Maryland (05:57)

Date:
2020-09-16
Main contributors:
Brandon Woody
Summary:
Brandon Woody (Baltimore, Maryland) Brandon Woody is a trumpet player, composer, and curator based in Baltimore, Maryland. Growing up in East Baltimore, Woody is an alumnus of the Baltimore School for the Arts, and participated in programs such as the Berklee jazz workshop and Grammy Camp. Woody has studied with Cecile Bridgewater, Ambrose Akinmusire and Theljon Allen. He has performed with musicians including Quincy Phillips, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Tarus Mateen, and has appeared on the projects of several different rappers and singers including Miranda Curtis, Sophie Marks, and Neptune. Woody is also a member of the band of singer Solange. Woody has performed at venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center Appel Room, the Lyric Opera House, the Kimmel Center, Monterey Jazz Festival, Moma Ps1, and Harlem Stage. After attending the Brubeck Institute on a full scholarship, he moved back to his hometown of Baltimore. In 2015, Woody founded his band UPENDO, which has toured nationally and internationally. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/16/2020.

382. Interview with Cantor Yvon Shore, Cincinnati, Ohio (06:02)

Date:
2020-10-27
Main contributors:
Cantor Yvon Shore
Summary:
Cantor Yvon Shore (Cincinnati, Ohio) Cantor Yvon F. Shore is a cantor and educator based in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she is the Director of Liturgical Arts and Music at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She earned a master’s degree in Sacred Music and Ordination through HUC-JIR, New York in 1995. She received a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from West Chester University, College of Visual and Performing Arts with a double major in flute and conducting. Cantor Shore took additional studies in ethnomusicology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York with Bathja Bayer, Amnon Shiloah, Edwin Seroussi, and Johoash Hirshberg. She continued graduate studies with an emphasis in musicology at the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music. At HUC, she teachers and oversees curricula, as well as leads prayer services. She has taught and lectured on topics from Music of the Moroccan Jewish Community to Classical Reform Jewish Music and Prayer. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/27/2020.

383. Interview with Ben Sollee, Louisville, Kentucky (05:48)

Date:
2020-10-09
Main contributors:
Ben Sollee
Summary:
Ben Sollee (Louisville, Kentucky) Ben Sollee is a cellist and composer based in Louisville, Kentucky. He has performed with companies including the Charlotte Ballet and the North Carolina Dance Theater, where he wrote original music for the play Dangerous Liaisons. Ben has toured on his bicycle, riding over 4,000 miles. He has been invited to speak on sustainability at festivals including South by Southwest Music (2011) and TEDx San Diego (2012). At home, Ben has raised awareness about Mountain Top Removal Strip Mining in Central Appalachia. His album Dear Companion (Sub Pop, 2010) with artist Daniel Martin Moore and producer Jim James sheds light on the issue. Ben’s music has been featured in film and television, including Mark Steven Johnson’s Killing Season starring John Travolta and Robert De Niro, ABC’s Parenthood, and HBO’s Weeds. Working with experimental technology, Ben has used the Vanishing Point virtual reality app, and created an interactive sculptural installation called Livestream. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/09/2020.

384. Interview with Chris Newell, Bar Harbor, Maine (05:57)

Date:
2020-10-23
Main contributors:
Chris Newell
Summary:
Chris Newell (Bar Harbor, Maine) Chris Newell (Passamaquoddy) is a musician and educator based in Bar Harbor, Maine. He was born and raised in Motahkmikuhk (Indian Township, ME) and is a proud citizen of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township. Chris has been a member of the Mystic River singers, an award-winning inter-tribal pow wow drum group based in Connecticut. The group traveled across North America singing and learning at community pow wows. Beyond, Chris has served as Education Supervisor for the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center and co-founded the Akomawt Educational Initiative addressing the lack of Native history and social studies in public schools and other institutions. He spearheaded Akomawt’s collaboration with the Leventhal Map Center’s exhibit America Transformed: Mapping the 19th Century, earning the 2019 Excellence Award from the New England Museum Association. Chris serves as Executive Director and Senior Partner to Wabanaki Nations in the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, Maine. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/23/20.

385. Interview with Daniel de Jesús, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (05:43)

Date:
2020-09-24
Main contributors:
Daniel de Jesús
Summary:
Daniel de Jesús (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Daniel de Jesús is a painter, composer, and songwriter versed in the worlds of visual and sonic tapestries. They hold a degree in fine art form the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and have exhibited their work throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Their musical practice includes building beats, ambient sonic spaces, and string arrangements with vocals, and their work has been described as Baroque pop and Neo-Goth, filled with dramatic themes based on mysticism, the occult, and Latin American lore. Daniel de Jesús has nine studio recordings of their original music and performs with orchestras and rock bands in the region and around the world. Their projects include collaborations with painter and performance artist David Antonio Cruz, singer songwriter Courtlyn Carr, and the Bearded Ladies Cabaret. They have performed at venues across the world including the Park Ave. Armory, Millennium Park Theater, and World Café Live. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/24/2020

386. Interview with DDm, Baltimore, Maryland (05:57)

Date:
2020-10-06
Main contributors:
DDm
Summary:
DDm (Baltimore, Maryland) DDm (Dapper Dan Midas) is a singer, raptivist and social media personality based in Baltimore, Maryland. DDm was born and raised in Baltimore, and participated in the local rap circuit beginning in the mid-2000s before starting his hip hop duo Bond St. District. As a solo artist, DDm has recorded albums including Beautiful Gowns (2019) and The Ballad of Omar (2020), inspired by Michael K. Williams’s portrayal of Omar, an openly gay man raised in West Baltimore, in the series The Wire. DDm has released multiple music videos including “Come Thru,” “He Say She Say,” and “Pull Up.” In addition to rapping at ciphers around Baltimore, he has performed at venues such the Baltimore Soundstage and the LGBTQ mega-party Bent: Back with a Bang. He has performed alongside musicians such as Dan Deacon and collaborated with Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner on her project Dungeonesse. Beyond music, DDm regularly presents social commentary videos under the moniker Secretary of Shade. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/06/2020.

387. Interview with Deborah Strauss, Princeton, New Jersey (05:58)

Date:
2020-09-30
Main contributors:
Deborah Strauss
Summary:
Deborah Strauss (Princeton, New Jersey) Deborah Strauss is a multi-instrumentalist, educator, and dancer of klezmer and Yiddish music. She is a member of the intercontinental group Voices of Ashkenaz and the Yiddish/North German fiddle trio, Figelin. She has performed with the Grammy-winning Klezmatics and appears in the film Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem. Together with Cantor Jeff Warschauer, she is a member of the Strauss/Warschauer Duo, which has performed in venues such as Great Britain’s Fiddles on Fire and the Jewish Culture Festival in Cracow, Poland. Jeff and Deborah were both longtime members of the Klezmer Conservatory Band, one of the premiere groups of the klezmer revival, and have performed with violinist Itzhak Perlman. They lead Yiddish song and dance workshops throughout North America and Europe and have taught at places such as KlezKamp, KlezKanada, and Yiddish Summer Weimar. Deborah and Jeff are Yiddish speakers, and have researched and collected Yiddish and Hebrew songs and melodies since the 1980s. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/30/2020.

388. Interview with Danielle Ponder, Rochester, New York (05:52)

Date:
2020-10-09
Main contributors:
Danielle Ponder
Summary:
Danielle Ponder (Rochester, New York) Danielle Ponder is a singer and bandleader based in Rochester, New York. Her group was named one of the Top Ten Bands to watch by CityPaper and was a winner of the 2015 and 2016 Roc Awards for Best Band. Danielle has performed opening shows for musicians including George Clinton, Ledisi, and the Roots, and has toured nationally and internationally. Her recorded releases include the EP Blow Out The Sun (2016) and the single “Holding Me Down” (2019). Beyond music, Danielle is a former Public Defender and TEDx speaker, and has organized around issues such as education funding, women’s rights, and criminal justice reform. She has been highlighted by the American Bar Association and has been awarded the Public Interest Law scholarship at Northeastern University, the Teen Empowerment’s PeaceMaker in Action Award, and the Jessica Bain Community Excellence Award. In 2017, she created the multimedia show For the Love of Justice, where she examines the U.S. criminal justice system. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/09/2020.

389. Interview with Dot Levine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (05:50)

Date:
2020-09-18
Main contributors:
Dot Levine
Summary:
Dot Levine (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Dot Levine is a Philadelphia-based entertainer, bandleader and producer. As a singer and guitar player, they specialize in many genres, most prominently 1920s jazz music. Dot has performed with their group the Singular Band, as well as with the Mahogany Stompers, a duo with percussionist Julius Masri; the Howling Kettles, an old-timey trio with members spread across the United States; and groups such as the Perseverance Jazz Band. Dot is also a dedicated teacher, an active producer, and has worked extensively as a live sound technician. They build electronic instruments and equipment to use in their recording studio and in their solo experimental project, Fink Tank. In March 2020, Dot founded Dottie’s Serenade Service, which provides individually tailored socially distant performances in the age of pandemic and has expanded beyond Philadelphia to New York City, Boston, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/18/2020.

390. Interview with Dakota Karper, Capon Bridge, West Virginia (05:55)

Date:
2020-10-29
Main contributors:
Dakota Karper
Summary:
Dakota Karper (Capon Bridge, West Virginia) Dakota Karper is an Appalachian fiddler, vocalist and storyteller based in Capon Bridge, West Virginia. Born and raised in rural West Virginia, Dakota grew up surrounded by old-time Appalachian string band music and began studying the music at a young age. Absorbing as much as possible, she apprenticed under fiddler Joe Herrmann, spent weeks at Augusta Heritage Center, played various music festivals in and around West Virginia, and studied classical violin at the Shenandoah Arts Academy in Winchester, Virginia. After living in Baltimore, Maryland, for seven years, Dakota moved back to her roots in Capon Bridge, West Virginia, where she teaches Appalachian fiddle, as well as performs in the surrounding areas. Dakota was a founding member of the Short Mountain String Band and Hay Fever. In 2019 Dakota opened her own traditional roots music school called The Cat and The Fiddle. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 10/29/2020.

391. Interview with Fawziyya Heart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (05:58)

Date:
2020-09-26
Main contributors:
Fawziyya Heart
Summary:
Fawziyya Heart (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)  Fawziyya Heart is a singer/songwriter based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Born and raised in the city, she has been influenced by the Philly music scene. Her music is a funk-infused blend of jazz, blues, and soul with anthemic lyrics calling for social change and self-transformation. Fawziyya has performed, recorded, and written several songs with global house music collective World Town Sound System alongside Grammy award winning percussionist Pablo Batista (Alicia Keys/Grover Washington Jr). In 2020, Fawziyya prepared for the release of her debut EP, featuring her own original songs and an array of Philly talent. The songs on the EP are produced by Philadelphia’s legendary Chuck Treece, who remixed songs for Amy Grant and Sting, and played bass on “The River of Dreams” by Billy Joel. Trap Rabbit’s Logan Roth has co-arranged the songs and added his distinct sound to the tracks. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/26/2020.

392. Interview with Emi Grate, New York City, New York (05:58)

Date:
2020-09-22
Main contributors:
Emi Grate
Summary:
Emi Grate (New York City, New York) Emi Grate is a drag artist, event producer, and illustrator based in Brooklyn, New York. Emi Grate was born and raised in Mandalay, Burma, and came to the United State in 2011 for college. She is an LGBT asylee in the U.S. Emi Grate is a classically trained tenor vocalist. She holds a liberal arts degree in theatre and is trained as a stage manager. Emi Grate is the producer of A+ the Pan-Asian Drag Revue, and is Mr(s) BK 2018 and Miss Brooklyn Pride 2020. Her drag involves community organizing and is centered around themes of identity politics, looking to her own upbringing and cultural background to validate and celebrate queerness. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/22/2020.

393. Interview with Fay Victor, New York City, New York (05:58)

Date:
2020-09-14
Main contributors:
Fay Victor
Summary:
Fay Victor (New York City, New York) Brooklyn based Fay Victor is an improvising vocalist, composer, lyricist, and educator working with musics that are improvisational and conversational in nature. Victor has released critically acclaimed albums as a leader, including Barn Songs (Northern Spy Records, 2019) and SoundNoiseFunk-Wet Robots (ESP-Disk, 2018). She has worked with musicians including William Parker, Roswell Rudd, Nicole Mitchell, Archie Shepp, Marc Ribot, and Tyshawn Sorey. Touring nationally and internationally, she has performed in venues including Whitney Museum and The Museum of Modern Art (NYC), The Kolner Philharmonie (Germany), De Young Museum (SF), The Winter Jazz Festival (NY) and the Bimhuis (Netherlands). She was the 2017 Herb Albert/Yaddo Fellow in Music Composition and a 2018 recipient of a month-long Headlands Center for the Arts residency. As an educator, Victor teaches her own singing classes and workshops and serves on the faculty of the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/14/2020.

394. Interview with Gopal Niroula, Burlington, Vermont (05:06)

Date:
2020-09-16
Main contributors:
Gopal Niroula
Summary:
Gopal Niroula (Burlington, Vermont) Gopal Niroula is a multi-instrumentalist and singer based in Burlington, Vermont. Born in Bhutan, Niroula was raised in a refugee camp in Nepal before resettling in Burlington. Niroula plays traditional Nepali music, along with other Nepali music genres. He is a multi-instrumentalist and singer, with a specialty in flute, and a particular expertise in the nose flute. In Vermont, he plays with his brother, tabla musician Puru Niroula. Alongside other members, they play in 3rd STEPS, a group they co-founded which gathers bi-weekly for two hours to sing bhajan, or Hindu devotional songs, in Nepali. The name 3rd STEPS refers to the members’ links to three countries: Bhutan where they were born, Nepal where Bhutanese nationals of ethnic Nepali descent fled after stripped of their Bhutanese citizenships in the 1990s, and the U.S. During COVID-19, Niroula produced and performed in a weekly livestream show that attracted many well-known musicians from Nepal, including a winner of the Nepali Idol contest. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/16/2020.

395. Interview with Jadein Black, Ypsilanti, Michigan (05:57)

Date:
2020-09-04
Main contributors:
Jadein Black
Summary:
Jadein Black (Ypsilanti, Michigan) Jadein Black is a performing Drag Queen, as well as founder and producer of the Boylesque Drag Show in Ypsilanti, Michigan. In addition to performing locally, she has been on multiple tours around the United States and Canada, from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She has made top-ten at the prestigious Nation Entertainer of the Year competition. In addition to her performance at venues and shows including Boylesque, she also hosts and performs at many universities around the country, private parties, as well as at local Drag Show and Storytime events. The events she produces and performs in with Boylseque Drag Show regularly raise money for various causes ranging from at-risk LGBTQ youth to the Black Lives Matter movement. Boylesque Drag Show features local drag performers such as Maxi Chanel, Hershae Chocolatae, Izaya Cole, and Ani Briated. Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/04/2020.

396. Interview with Stephanie BadSoldier Snow, Garwin, Iowa (06:17)

Date:
2020-10-09
Main contributors:
Stephanie BadSoldier Snow
Summary:
Stephanie BadSoldier Snow (Garwin, Iowa) Stephanie BadSoldier Snow was raised on the Meskwaki Settlement in central Iowa with traditional Meskwaki ways and is of the Swan Clan. She is an enrolled tribal member of the HoChunk Nation of Wisconsin. Along with Meskwaki and HoChunk heritage, Stephanie is also Lakota and Umohon. As a member of various song, storytelling, and dance troupes, she has had the honor of working with acclaimed Native American performing artists throughout her career. A tremendous lifelong goal was realized when she was blessed to be one of the first Native performers on the Nashville stage. Stephanie is an award-winning artist who holds the Meskwaki way of life dear, appearing on recordings meant to revitalize the tribal language and revive songs once thought lost to the community. Today Stephanie, also a published poet and anthropologist, works from home as a cultural consultant, continues as a virtual musical performer, acts as learning coach to her two children, and spends time sharing ideas with her intellectual husband. Interviewed by Holly Hobbs, 10/09/2020.

397. Interview with Ricky B, New Orleans, Louisiana (05:51)

Date:
2020-10-15
Main contributors:
Ricky B
Summary:
Ricky B (New Orleans, Louisiana) Raised in the St. Bernard projects of New Orleans, Ricky B is considered a pioneer of New Orleans bounce, an indigenous local subgenre of rap. Incorporating Mardi Gras Indian chants into his early records, Ricky is considered widely influential across multiple demographics, including rap, hip-hop, brass band, funk and more. Ricky B has multi-generational appeal, as the songs he wrote in the 1980s and 1990s are still regularly played by DJs throughout Louisiana. Ricky B is also a cultural historian and advocate for New Orleans music and culture. Interviewed by Holly Hobbs, 10/15/2020.

398. Interview with Samantha Crain, Norman, Oklahoma (05:34)

Date:
2020-10-02
Main contributors:
Samantha Crain
Summary:
Samantha Crain (Norman, Oklahoma) Samantha Crain is a Choctaw singer, songwriter, poet, producer, and musician from Oklahoma. She is a two-time Native American Music Award winner and winner of an Indigenous Music Award. Her genre spanning discography has been critically acclaimed by media outlets such as Rolling Stone, SPIN, Paste, No Depression, NPR, PRI, The Guardian, NME, Uncut, and others. She has toured extensively over the past eleven years nationally and internationally, presenting ambitious orchestrated shows with a band and intimate folk leaning solo performances. She has toured with First Aid Kit, Neutral Milk Hotel, Lucy Rose, the Avett Brothers, the Mountain Goats, Brandi Carlile, Langhorne Slim, and many other bands and artists. Interviewed by Holly Hobbs, 10/02/2020.

399. Interview with Ron Shirley II, Atlanta, Georgia (05:53)

Date:
2020-09-24
Main contributors:
Ron Shirley II
Summary:
Ron Shirley II (Atlanta, Georgia) Ron Shirley II is an R&B, pop, and electro-dance performer from Atlanta, Georgia. With rich vocals, crafty songwriting, and artsy videos, Ron is a young artist who was supported by his mother, who served as the director at the Woodruff Arts Center. He was involved in musical theatre from an early age and began writing his own music in his early teens. He released his first few EPs in the early 2010s, where he says he explored more colorful sounds and created his own visuals to accompany the music. His later albums, Thanks For Nothing and About a Boy, expanded upon similar connections between colorful visuals and music. Interviewed by Holly Hobbs, 09/24/2020.

400. Interview with Sari Reist, Nashville, Tennessee (05:14)

Date:
2020-09-22
Main contributors:
Sari Reist
Summary:
Sari Reist (Nashville, Tennessee) Sari De Leon-Reist is Artistic Director of the Grammy-nominated Alias Chamber Ensemble. She plays with the Nashville Opera Orchestra and is a regular substitute for the Nashville Symphony. Sari was also a soloist with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra and the Nexus Chamber Orchestra. In the popular music realm, she can be heard on the recordings of Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum), Kings of Leon, Faith Hill, Ben Folds, Train, Carrie Underwood, and many others. Sari received her Bachelor of Music degree in cello performance from San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Irene Sharp. She was formerly on the faculty of Mannes College of Music, School for Strings New York, and the Children’s Orchestra Society of New York, as well as the Governor’s School of the Arts in Tennessee and Lipscomb University. In 2018, she was a guest artist in the First National Youth Cello Festival in Ningbo, China. Sari teaches at Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Interviewed by Holly Hobbs, 09/22/2020.