Monday, October 5, 2009

Ethiopian Pianist Girma Yifrashewa To Perform at 'Africa Meets North America', UCLA Oct. 22-25


["Girma Yifrashewa's Multimedia Show Hagerre"]

Girma Yifrashewa is an Ethiopian pianist and composer of classical music. He is profiled at AfriClassical.com and has been featured on AfriClassical frequently. On May 10, 2009 we posted: “Addis Journal: Girma Yifrashewa Premieres CD of 'Hagere' by Gebre Kristos Desta, May 14.” The post quoted the Addis Journal: “The work of poet Gebre Kristos Desta is to be translated into music in a new CD composed by the noted pianist Girma Yifrashewa. The poem 'Hagere' (My Country), Girma’s first composition using works of the eminent poet, would be premiered at the Italian Cultural Institute on May 14, 2009. Girma told Addis Journal that he has been thinking of converting Gebre Kristo’s poems into music since he discovered the work in an anthology published three years ago.”

Yesterday we sent the link for the May 10 post to Girma, and asked for a copy of the CD. Today we have received this reply:
"Hi William,
Thank you for follow up on my work and for the post you wrote on Hagere.
Hagere was a program of music, poetry and dance. It was anew presentation to Ethiopian people.
The music is just a single one not yet to be published as i may do the the full album in the future.
I have to tell you I am coming soon to the States again, L.A. this time, for an International symposium and festival under the title of Africa Meets North America (AMNA) which is organized by the UCLA.
It is indeed a very big program. I am going to give a full concert. If you want to know about it please, check the website.
Best wishes and many thanks again.
Girma"

AfriClassical had already planned to interview Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje, Professor and Chair of the Department of Musicology, UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, on "Africa Meets North America", in the near future.






1 comment:

Unknown said...

Girma is one of among the best artist africa should be proud of. I know Girma since our student life in Europe. Everyone who gets to know him never forget him. It is my good germen friend, Dr Heimke, who called him an "exceptional man with a unique God given talent." I hope as many people as possible hear his music and see what I am talking about.
Kelley
Baltimore, MD