#Berklee Performance Center

[tfc2211]

Cowboy Junkies live performance at the Berklee Performance Center, Boston, MA 4/30/1989. Recorded and broadcast by WBCN 104.1 FM

[lboogie1906]

Goapele Mohlabane (July 11, 1977) is a soul and R&B singer-songwriter. Her name means to move forward in Setswana, a Southern African language.

Her father Douglas Mohlabane was an exiled political activist who struggled against the Apartheid System. Her mother Noa had been attending protests since the age of 12. She and her older brother DJ Namane Mohlabane were raised in a South African exile community in California.

She attended the Berkeley Arts Magnet School, where she led a pre-teen peer-support group. She became involved in various groups and organizations that combated racism and sexism.

She has a daughter.

She returned to Oakland after her time at Berklee College of Music, where she concentrated on writing and recording songs. She self-released her debut album, Closer, which sold 5,000 copies. “Closer” peaked at #63 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

She performed at rallies, demonstrations, and various political events around the world from Cuba to South Africa. The California-based Ella Baker Center for Human Rights honored her with its first-ever Human Rights Cultural Hero Award during the center’s 10th-anniversary celebration, which was titled “Tribute to a Dream.” #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[reasoningdaily]

For Catherine Morris, the founder and executive director of the Boston Art and Music Soul Festival, Franklin Park is a sacred ground of sorts. The site is home to Elma Lewis Playhouse in the Park, an open-air performance venue that has hosted Black artists since 1966. The park's tie to Black history is one of the reasons Morris decided to host BAMS Fest there. “Franklin Park is ground zero for us because of Elma Lewis,” she says. “I stand on her shoulders.”

Lewis, a famed Black Boston arts educator and organizer, created Playhouse in the Park in the 1960s to serve marginalized communities in Boston. BAMS Fest is a festival that continues the tradition set forth by Lewis — taking up space in one of Boston’s central locations to celebrate Black people and Black art. “We need to think about how our people experience a green space, as Black and brown bodies,” Morris says. “It's fertile ground. It's native ground. All those things we need to be in tune with.”

WBUR is a nonprofit news organization. Our coverage relies on your financial support. If you value articles like the one you're reading right now, give today.

These concepts shaped what would become the first annual BAMS Fest in 2018, where two stages featured musical acts at Franklin Park. The festival also had vendors, street artists, resource tents and more. Around 2,200 people attended the first BAMS Fest. Five years later, the festival is expecting close to 15,000 people.

In the past, BAMS Fest has been a free, one-day experience. This year, that will change. “What's been remarkable is the decision to scale, going from one day to basically three days,” says Morris. “We start with the inaugural BAMS CONX conference, centering Black imagination, entrepreneurship, connection and unity at the Berklee College of Music.” Patrons can expect to hear discussions on topics like equity in music, songwriting, sneaker culture and more. The conference will feature creatives and industry leaders, including drummer and composer Terri Lyne Carrington and journalist Dyana Williams, co-creator of Black Music Month.

“We have chefs. We have food trucks. We have a dedicated kids' zone, which is called 'Kids Play.' We have Black and brown face painters; we have dance,” Morris says. “We have a vendor market. We have over 50 Black and brown nonprofits and businesses. And we added a job fair this year.” To celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, Grandmaster Flash will close the festival, followed by an afterparty at Chez-Vous Roller Skating Rink.

One other marked difference from years before is the addition of a tiered ticketing system. Buying the BAMS Fam Access Pass at $225, for example, gives visitors access to the entire lineup of events offered during the festival, along with priority seating at Saturday’s events. The new ticketing model was an important decision as the fest moves toward an end goal of expanding and offering more to patrons.

“As a nonprofit organization, as a cultural movement that started from zero to get to where we are, the tiered ticketing model allows for people to support,” Morris points out. “The sustainability of continuing our tradition requires investment. It requires investment from the business community, from the local community, from the arts community.”

However, “there will always be a portion of this that will remain free to the public,” Morris says. Patrons who cannot buy a tiered ticket can always register for free to experience the music, art, vendors and more at Saturday’s festival at Playstead Park. At the end of the day, Morris wants visitors to feel free: “Feel free to take off your shoes. You should feel free to be able to run. You should feel free to be able to do a cartwheel. You should feel free to dance."

One of the musicians taking the stage this year on Friday night is Tim Hall, a Boston-based musician. He’s been playing the saxophone since he was 9 years old and now teaches other musicians at Berklee College of Music as an assistant professor in the professional music department. He's also the co-owner of the digital media company HipStory.

Hall has played on a multitude of stages and at many shows but his upcoming performance at BAMS Fest will be his largest to date as a featured artist. "It's very emotional to now find myself performing, not as a sideman, not a session musician for somebody else, but to do my own music at the festival," Hall says. "It's been an emotional experience."

Hall worked at BAMS Fest in different roles between 2015 and 2021. Although he’s no longer working with the nonprofit on the business side, he still feels BAMS Fest is essential for musicians like him. Not only does the festival offer an opportunity to play on one of its two stages, but "there is an educational component to working with artists. It wasn't just like 'Submit your art or submit your profile,'” says Hall. BAMS Fest sought to create active platforms for artists to develop professionally.

But both Hall and Morris point out that the city is still lacking major music venues and spaces that allow for expansive expressions of Black music and culture. Because hip-hop is included in the festival, Morris says she's run into barriers like insurance companies refusing to cover it. “There is a level of tension or trepidation with law enforcement about a potential, you know, gang affiliation.” The festival pays a higher premium because of assumptions about hip-hop. “It's something we have to deal with every single year,” says Morris.

The question of whether or not Boston is hostile to hip-hop has been raised again and again by musicians and festival organizers like Morris. WBUR's Amelia Mason reported in 2018 that hip-hop artists, DJs and event coordinators faced heightened difficulties when trying to book acts or ran into roadblocks when trying to execute hip-hop themed events.

For Morris, it makes the work BAMS Fest is doing even more important. “We're more than a festival,” she says. “Everything from challenging our city government around the permitting process, how Boston police are involved in the permitting process. There are a lot of us giving our lives to the work so that future curators and producers and organizations don't have to go through what we are experiencing right now.”

Despite the hurdles, the outcome is worth it. As Morris says, BAMS Fest is more than just a festival — it's a movement. “Doing a multidisciplinary intergenerational festival that feeds people, gives them nourishment, something they can be proud about starts to change the attitude about what's possible and will hopefully inspire the next generation to go bigger,” says Morris.

[ralphbutler]

Turning: Turning Back (Live at Berklee Performance Center, Boston, MA - ...

[debbiedeane]

Website: https://www.debbiedeane.com/

Address: Brooklyn, New York, USA

Debbie Deane hails from a musical world without boundaries, where singer-songwriters and top-tier jazz musicians breathe the same creative air. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Debbie grew up listening to Carole King, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, and Steely Dan. As a teenager she explored the fertile ground of the Great American Songbook. Introduced to folk, funk and fusion by her older brother, she studied the great divas of the jazz and pop worlds developing an intense interest in jazz harmony. Music was the ultimate refuge.

After earning a degree in English Literature from Harvard, Debbie embarked on a career in music. She studied jazz intensively at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, honing the piano skills that she continues to display as a singer-songwriter. At first her songwriting and singing came as an afterthought, but then took center stage.

In her performing and recording life, Debbie had the good fortune to work with  acclaimed jazz musicians who share her interest in quality songwriting — people like drummer Brian Blade and the late, great bass player Jeff Andrews.  Moving back to Brooklyn, she lived in a ""jazz den"" with some of the city’s most promising jazz musicians, including saxophonists Seamus Blake and Terry Deane, drummer Marc Miralta and pianists John Stetch and George Colligan. ""Everyone came through our place,"" says Debbie. ""The people I’ve played with, they’re all my friends and they’ve known me, they’ve been my roommates and people I went to school with."" Their presence on Debbie’s recordings and at her live shows is a powerful endorsement.

Debbie continues to gig extensively in New York and beyond.

Piano Lessons:

Debbie Deane has been a piano teacher for over 20 years. She teaches out of her home in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, specializing in kids ages 6 and up.  

She teaches the fundamentals and basics - scales, reading music, music theory, and playing by ear. Her students play a lot of songs. Each student is different, and she tailors lessons accordingly. As a result, she teaches all styles of music. She does have a soft spot for Bach and Beethoven, so everyone has to try classical, which is great for technique.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DebbieDeaneMusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbiedeanemusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@debbiedeane8771/

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[danielsiegelalonso]

An Intersection of Creativity: How Music and Technology Share a Connection | Daniel Siegel Alonso

Introduction

The impact of technology on the realm of music is a symphony of creativity and innovation. From the humble beginnings of acoustic music in ancient times to the modern methods of production, technology has profoundly transformed every facet of musical expression. In today's modern era, the intertwined connection of music and technology has not only expanded artistic possibilities but has also become a powerful tool for inclusivity and accessibility.

Historical Perspective

Time and time on, the definition of music has varied throughout the world. Every known culture partakes in the curation of the artistic nodes termed as music. The mingling of music in prehistoric culture is dated back to 40,000 BP of the Upper Paleolithic. Though the origin of music remains highly contentious, its evolved impact has certainly reached millions. With pivotal moments shaping the music industry, the invention of the phonograph by Thomas Adison in the 19th century reigned the initiation. It being the first time for people to have ever heard music that could be recorded or replayed, shaped a significant milestone. 

Music & Technology Intertwined

Technology has breached the boundaries of musical repertoires and styles for the mass media to make contact with music cultures throughout the world. As per record, printing was the primary vehicle of industrialization influencing folk music. Recordings as well as printed scores played a vital role in technologizing the oral tradition; musicians commonly learned new pieces through cassettes. By evidence, the availability of technology has shaped the formation of such a notable influence of repertories and styles on musicians. 

Daniel Siegel Alonso Dives Into His Music Era

Daniel Siegel Alonso is a versatile musician, known for his soulful voice and mastered guitar skills. Hailing from a musical family, Daniel blends the elements of folk, rock, blues, creating a unique blend that resonated with his audience.  

Collaboration & Musical Education

Daniel Siegel Alonso’s education at Berklee College of Music and later studies in the University of Oregon exemplified how academic institutions leverage music technology. Berklee, known for its highly innovative approach to music technology, equipped Dan with skills in music production and composition. 

Musical Influence

Born in Seattle, Washington, Dan began piano lessons at age eight and commenced performing on stage by the age of twelve. Post his graduation, he commenced recording his own compositions. Parallel to his composition career, centered around Jazz, he has reigned the music world with his unique take on producing.

Recording Technology

Daniel Siegel Alonso’s career development, particularly in relation to his ability to record and distribute his own contributions, highlights the impact of technological advances. In accordance with advanced recording techniques, he has been able to facilitate such an evolution to deliver optimum performances. 

Distribution & Promotion

Signing with Inner City Records in 1979, Daniel Siegel Alonso was able to reach a broader audience. Leveraging such partnership styles into his music career equipped with technological advancements enhanced his distribution channels. From vinyl records, CDs, which later became pivotal in reaching audiences beyond local geographic boundaries. 

Music Technology Embraces Accessibility & Inclusivity

From the stories that exemplify this transformative relationship: A blind and autistic pianist utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance his left-hand playing, unveiling new dimensions of expression previously thought unreachable. A multi-instrumentalist confined to a wheelchair harnesses accessible technology, empowering him to become a one-man orchestra. For a singer born with one hand, advancements in technology have granted him the ability to hold a guitar for the first time, expanding his musical repertoire in ways that were once unimaginable.

Instances as such underscore how technology serves as a prime catalyst for overcoming physical barriers and redefining creative boundaries in the music realm. As we delve deeper into the intersection of music and technology, we uncover a tapestry of innovation that continues to shape the future of musical artistry. Remembering that integration and collaboration over isolation fosters creation- masterpiece in most cases. Moreover, AI enables interactive music experiences that adapt in real-time and fosters global collaboration among artists. These technologies also offer educational tools that provide personalized feedback, aiding musicians in honing their craft effectively.

Conclusion

The intricate relationship between music and technology has undoubtedly unveiled an era of creativity and accessibility. For a contemporary artist like Daniel Siegel Alonso, the exemplification of technological advancements in recording, distribution and education has seen the light of the day. Looking ahead, the synergy of music and technology promises further revolutionizing on how we create, share and experience music. Embracing these technological shifts, we are poised to witness more groundbreaking developments in the future. 

[moochilatv]

Brian Walker presents: Before the Roof Caves in

Pop artist Brian Walker was born and raised on a farm in the small town of East Kingston, New Hampshire.

Brian Walker

He turned his childhood bedroom into a recording studio, where he writes, produces and mixes his pop songs. Walker’s music has been featured on Spotify playlists such as “New Music Friday: Indonesia”, “Fresh Finds”, “Fresh Finds: Pop” and broadcasted on 92.5 The River Independent Radio. He has played over 700 shows across New England, performing at the Berklee Performance Center, Mohegan Sun, and many other venues. Walker has had a couple of songs pass 100,000 streams on Spotify, one of which he wrote, produced and mixed by himself.

In March of 2024, Walker dropped the second track off of his upcoming debut LP, a follow up to "When I Start To Care", called “Dear Jane”, which Iggy Magazine called an “Ode to Melancholy”. Walker’s latest single, an edgy, funky tune called “Before the Roof Caves in”, dropped on 5.24.24, and features a music video where Walker is chased by “Wolf Girl” and her hypnotized henchmen. Blogger "EXTRAVAFRENCH" referred to this song as "An Ode To Determination".

Follow Brian Walker in IG:

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Check the new video:

www.YouTube.com/BrianWalkerMusic.

Follow Brian Walker on Spotify, so you don’t miss any of his upcoming releases.

[sergj7]

Jazz Explosion Superband - 1988-02-07, Berklee Performance Center, Bosto...

[jazzandother-blog]

Joey Blake and Bobby McFerrin vocal improvisation

Video recorded at Berklee Performance Center, 24th Feb 2011, Boston; uploaded by permission of Joey Blake

In 2012, Musicians without Borders together with WE-ACTx, are setting up a music program for hundreds of HIV+ children and youth in Kigali, Rwanda. The program will include 4 training weeks in which international and local musicians will collaborate to train youth to lead music workshops, and together work with the children. In the first training week in February, Joey Blake, a voice artist and associate professor at Berklee college of music, will be joining the team.

[twnenglish]

Most Expensive Restaurants In Boston City

One of the oldest cities in the United States is Boston, Massachusetts. When it comes to food trends, Boston plays things safe. No matter what their taste craves, any eater may have a delicious dinner in today's dining scene. There are countless possibilities because of the diversity of Boston's neighborhoods and the many excellent chefs who have made the city into a culinary wonder.

There are several luxury restaurants that are perfect for a special occasion in this city of historic landmarks, beauty, and prosperity. Make a reservation at one of Boston's top eateries to step up your game. These restaurants elevate dining out with spotless white tablecloths, first-rate service, and inventive fare.

Fresh fish is brought daily to the eateries thanks to Boston's Atlantic location. But Boston is more than simply a seafood lover's paradise; it also invites visitors to sample cuisines from all over the world. Let's take a look at some of the most expensive Boston restaurants.

Most Expensive Restaurants In Boston City

1. L’Espalier

One of the fanciest restaurants in Boston, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Boylston Street, is close to the hotel, which is one block from the Hynes Convention Center, Prudential Center, and Copley Place. Symphony Hall, Berklee Performance Center, and major colleges and universities are all within walking distance of L'Espalier. The cuisine served here is elegant and modern New England-French, with a focus on artisanal and local ingredients.

To Read This Full ARTICLE, Click Here

[eventseeker789]

Upcoming Jazz & Blues Concerts To Look Out For in Washington, D.C

Moonshine Society

Moonshine Society isn’t just a band; it’s a musical elixir concocted from the potent influences of blues, soul, rock, and R&B. Steeped in this rich blend, the group refuses to be boxed into any one genre, embracing the ethos that music transcends boundaries. Their genesis traces back to the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where three young visionaries forged their alliance in 2009, marking the birth of a movement.

Jenny Langer, the band's mesmerizing vocalist and songwriter, leads this powerhouse trio with charisma and raw talent that has graced the stage alongside legends like Warren Haynes, Susan Tedeschi, and Derek Trucks. She's not just a singer; she’s a maestro, weaving spells with her impassioned, soul-stirring voice.

Moonshine Society doesn’t rest on its laurels; they’ve shared the spotlight with luminaries like Johnny Winter, John Mayall, and Tower of Power, earning respect and admiration in the process. Their name, etched in the stars that fateful night in the Anacostia Delta, embodies their commitment to crafting music that speaks to the depths of the soul.

Their performances aren’t just shows; they're enchantments, with Langer casting a spell over audiences, leaving them captivated by her searing vocals and commanding stage presence. Moonshine Society isn’t merely a band; they’re a sonic experience, an alchemical fusion that captivates hearts, transcends genres, and leaves an indelible mark on anyone lucky enough to hear their music.

The band will be performing at The Hamilton on December 31, 2023 at 9:30p as part of the ongoing Moonshine Society tour.

Jazzmeia Horn

Jazzmeia Horn, a name that resonates like a sultry melody through the jazz world, is an artist born to sing. With an evocative voice that traverses octaves effortlessly, she’s a modern-day siren captivating audiences worldwide. Horn isn't just a singer; she's a storyteller. Her voice becomes the vessel through which narratives unfold, carrying listeners through a soulful journey that oscillates between nostalgia and innovation.

Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Horn's passion for jazz was nurtured in the city's vibrant music scene. She's not just a product of the genre; she's a force of evolution within it. Embracing the traditional elements of jazz while injecting her contemporary flair, Horn offers a fresh take on classics and an originality that defines her performances.

Her debut album, "A Social Call," earned critical acclaim, garnering her a Grammy nomination. Jazzmeia Horn isn't merely a rising star; she's a comet streaking across the jazz cosmos. Her performances are more than just concerts; they're transformative experiences, where her vocal acrobatics, melodic improvisations, and commanding stage presence captivate audiences, transporting them to a realm where jazz reigns supreme.

Horn’s voice embodies the essence of jazz: fluid, dynamic, and timeless. Her ability to merge scatting, improvisation, and storytelling into a single lyrical tapestry sets her apart, making each performance an immersive voyage into the heart and soul of jazz music.  The Jazzmeia Horn tour dates Horn tour dates were recently announced. Horn will be performing live at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater on December 31, 2023 at 7:00p.

Author Name Barkat Dhanji

[tfc2211]

Cowboy Junkies live performance, at the Berklee Performance Center, Boston MA 4/30/1989. Recorded and broadcast by WBCN 104.1 FM

[lboogie1906]

Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is a record producer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. His career spans over 60 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award nominations, 28 Grammys, and a Grammy Legend Award. He came to prominence in the 1950s as a jazz arranger and conductor before working on pop music and film scores. He became the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "The Eyes of Love" from the film Banning. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score for his work on In Cold Blood, making him the first African American to be nominated twice in the same year. He produced three of Michael Jackson's most successful albums: Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. He produced and conducted the charity song "We Are the World". He became the first African American to be the musical director and conductor of the Academy Awards. He was the first African American to receive the Academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. He is tied as the second most Oscar-nominated African American, with seven nominations each. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as the winner. He was named one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by Time. Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Ray Charles. Grammy Legend Award in 1992 (one of only 15 people ever to receive it). Second in the list of all-time Grammy award wins. Garfield High School in Seattle named a performing arts center after him. Quincy Jones Elementary School, located in South Central Los Angeles, is named after him. Humanitarian Award at the BET Awards. John F. Kennedy Center Honors. National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama. Los Angeles Press Club Visionary Award. Honorary doctorate from the Royal Academy of Music, London. Ahmet Ertegun Award into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame as a "foundational inductee". #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence https://www.instagram.com/p/CpxJIB9L5j0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[fearsmagazine]

Acclaimed Los Angeles-based Icelandic-Chinese artist, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Laufey reveals new track “Bewitched,” alongside a music video. The video was shot in London by director Lewis Cater.

A good song, but it sounds like a number from a Disney princess move. Give it a listen and let us know what you think.

“Bewitched” is the latest offering from her highly anticipated forthcoming album Bewitched, due September 8 via AWAL Recordings. About the song, which features accompaniment from the London-based Philharmonia Orchestra, Laufey explains, “‘Bewitched’ is a love song. I wanted the Philharmonia Orchestra to illustrate that feeling when you’re first falling in love with someone, and for it to emulate the thoughts that run through your head after a perfect first date.”

The new music is already receiving widespread attention—the album’s first single, “From The Start,” is garnering 1.5M streams per day across DSPs, and is currently the most streamed jazz song in the U.S., Top 50 overall on Spotify in the U.S., #6 on the U.S. Viral Charts, and Top 50 on the U.S. Shazam charts. Moreover, NPR Music praised her previously released track “Promise” as “delicate poetic music.” Bewitched follows Laufey’s 2022 debut full-length, Everything I Know About Love, which reached #1 on Billboard’s Alternative New Artist Album chart and featured hit single, “Valentine,” that peaked at #1 on the Spotify Jazz Chart.

While Everything I Know About Love shows what Laufey calls her “hopeless romantic” side, Bewitched has a more mature outlook, although it’s still in love with love. Laufey notes, “This is a love album, whether it be a love towards a friend or a lover or life. The first album also touched a lot on things like moving out of my childhood home and moving into a new city for the first time—being an adult. With this one, I’ve experienced a little bit more of that, and I’m writing about the magic in the love of being young.”

Additionally, Laufey will celebrate the album on the road this fall with ‘The Bewitched Tour,’ which sold out in minutes. The tour will make stops at iconic venues throughout North America including two nights at San Francisco’s Fillmore, Chicago’s Thalia Hall, New York City’s Town Hall, and Los Angeles’ Theatre at the Ace Hotel. Laufey’s performance at The Ford on September 16 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic is also sold out, and she is set to perform at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra on release day. Full tour routing below.

Laufey (pronounced lāy-vāy) is looking to bridge the gap between the past and the present, the history books and social media, the Reykjavik concert hall Harpa and the Los Angeles rock dive Troubadour, by writing, recording, and performing songs that are truly timeless, inspired by jazz greats and classical masters while possessing a point of view that could only be conveyed by a 21st-century twentysomething. Laufey explains, “As a musician, my goal is to bring jazz and classical music to my generation through a more accessible road.”

Raised between Reykjavík and Washington, D.C. with annual visits to Beijing, the Icelandic-Chinese artist grew up playing cello as well as piano and became hooked on the jazz standards of Ella Fitzgerald after digging through her father’s record collection. In 2020, while still a student at Berklee College of Music, Laufey released her debut single “Street by Street,” which went on to top the Icelandic radio charts. Following the release of her 2021 Typical of Me EP, Laufey was named Best New Artist in Jazz and Blues at the Icelandic Music Awards and hosted her own show on BBC Radio 3/BBC Sounds. By 2022 Laufey was the most streamed jazz artist on Spotify. Today, she has 500 million streams across all platforms and is the biggest streaming artist from Iceland in the world.

[escondidolibrary]

Join us on our Facebook page and upstairs in the Turrentine Room on July 8, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., for a live performance from Nuojun Wang Duo!

About Nuojun Wang Duo:

Praised by critics as “a rising pianist who is truly passionate, sensitive, and musical”, Nuojun Wang has appeared as a soloist on concert stages throughout the United States, Austria, Netherlands, France and her native China. Nuojun Wang has performed in various well-known concert halls including Kleine Zaal, Concertgebouw at (Amsterdam), Solitär, Mozarteum (Salzburg), Salle Cortot (Paris), Newman Recital Hall (Los Angeles), Janette MacDonald Hall (Los Angeles), Seully Hall (Boston), to name a few.

Nuojun has been awarded prizes in many music competitions in Europe, US as well as China. She graduated from University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music, where she studied with Professor Bernadene Blaha. She previously obtained her bachelor degree from Boston Conservatory at Berklee under the guidance of American pianist Dr. Jonathan Bass. She currently maintains an active private piano teaching studio in Los Angeles.

Chinese-American violinist Strauss Shi is quickly establishing himself as one of the most exciting multi-instrumental artists today representing music of the east and west. Praised by American conductor Carl St.Clair as “a deeply probing musician who plays with passionate commitment and virtuosity” and a “rising star” by the late Maestro Michael Morgan, Strauss made his major debut with the Utah Symphony under the baton of Vladimir Kulenovic at the age of seventeen and has since then concertized in the United States, Europe and Asia. Strauss is a top prizewinner at numerous competitions including Gold Medal at the 3rd Berliner International Music Competition (2019), First Prize at the USC Thornton Concerto Competition (2018), Grand Prize at the Mondavi Center Young Artists Competition (2017), First Prize at the United States International Music Competition (2016), and Second Prize at the inaugural Siqing Lu Futian International Violin Competition (2016), among others.

Recent solo appearances include USC Thornton Symphony and Andrés Cárdenes, Downey Symphony Orchestra and Sharon Lavery across two seasons, Chamber Music Society of Colombo with Midori, and his debut with the Pacific Symphony at the invitation of Carl St.Clair in their Summer Series “Symphony in the Cities” in Mission Viejo, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Musco Center, and Irvine across 10,000+ audiences to major acclaim. Recital highlights include sold-out debuts in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York.

This event is presented by Friends of the Escondido Public Library.

[hardynwa]

Watch Ghanaian drum artist, Shadrack “Shaddy” Oppong steals the show at 20th Panama Jazz Festival!

As part of only four drummers accepted into Berklee College of Music’s exclusive Masters program known as the “Berklee Global Jazz Institute” for the 2022-2023 academic year, Ghana’s Shadrack “Shaddy” Oppong has been scaling heights ever since! In a latest update on his experiences gathered so far, the Ghanaian power-drumming enigma has found himself thrilling thousands at the world renowned Panama Jazz Festival which took place from the 16th to 21st of January 2023 at the Ciudad del Saber as its educational venue & Wyndham Panama Albrook Mall Hotel & Convention Center. Founded in September 2003 by pianist and Grammy winner Danilo Pérez, Panama Jazz Festival which has spanned a period of 20 years witnessed the mastery of big names in the game perform to an audience of over 60,000 music lovers. https://youtu.be/6zG2Bhiy9Io Shaddy, who participated as the official drummer for Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors, shared stages with mega names in the world of jazz music including Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes; singer Catherine Russell (daughter of Panamanian native pioneer of jazz Luis Russell); Children of the Light featuring bassist John Patitucci, drummer Brian Blade and pianist Danilo Perez; Latin pop star singer-songwriter (of the global sensational song “Despacito”) Erika Ender, master drummer from Cuba Roman Diaz; and the all-star ensemble Global Jazz Womxn featuring Israeli sax player Lihi Haruvi. Other artists that performed on the night were Proyecto Acustico from El Salvador and distinguished national projects such as the Luis Russell Collective, Hijas del Jazz Big Band, Anthony Morris Kuna Jazz Quintet, Panamanian folk star Celsito Quintero, Idania Dowman, and many more.picture with the “Children of the Light” – from the left (Brian Blade – drummer, Shaddy, Danilo Perez – pianist and John Patitucci – bass) In addition, through the program Arts Envoy, the Embassy of the United States in Panama hosted distinguished global jazz musicians Farayi Malek, Nadia Washington and Chase Morrin. It was a week of enriching concerts highlighting the great gala night held at the Anayansi Theater in Atlapa Convention Center on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. The same theater presented great live jazz performances on Thursday, January 19, and Friday, January 20. Ateneo Theater, located in the City of Knowledge, also presented night concerts on Monday and Tuesday of the week of the festival; and Wyndham Hotel presented intimate performances every afternoon. The Panama Jazz Festival’s signature educational events happened at the City of Knowledge and hosted distinguished institutions such as Berklee College of Music and the Berklee Global Jazz Institute of which Shaddy put up a sterling performance while sharing knowledge & experiences gathered in his years of drumming, with students and patrons. It also hosted the New England Conservatory, and New York Jazz Academy, among others. The Festival celebrated the 11th Latin American Music Therapy Symposium bringing together music therapists from Panama, Chile, the United States, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, among other countries. Other important symposiums that took place during the festival included the 2nd Symposium of Natives Peoples, the 7th Symposium of the Culture and Music of Afro-Panamanians, and the first Symposium of Panama and the Caribbean in Jazz History. https://youtu.be/4Cc2qydK66s This is only a testament to the unparalleled laurels awaiting the young chap who took a step of faith to walk on water all the way from Obuasi to Boston with nothing but a dream, a persevering spirit and an incredible talent! Read the full article