Sunday, April 19, 2009

Oberlin College Black Musicians Guild: 'Call & Response: Black Music in the Community' Apr. 24-26

[Dr. Samuel A. Floyd, Jr.]

Danielle Taylor, Chair of the Oberlin College Black Musicians' Guild, issues this invitation:
You are invited to a very special event taking place at Oberlin College the weekend of April 24th-26th, 2009. “Call & Response: Black Music in the Community” is the first major conference presented by the Oberlin College Black Musicians Guild. The mission of this conference is to initiate a discussion of the power, possibilities, and importance of Black music. We want to celebrate music within the African Diaspora and recognize the work that many artists are doing to make the fine arts more accessible to communities of color and low-income communities as well as incorporating the study of Black music into institutions of higher learning.  Guest artists include:

Dr. Samuel A. Floyd Jr. - Dr. Floyd is a leading scholar for researching, publishing, and editing literature dedicated to Black Music. His educational contributions are immense, including his book "The Power of Black Music", as well founding and directing the Columbia College Center for Black Music Research.

Dr. Zakarya Sao Diouf - Born in the African nation of Senegal, Dr. Diouf is the founder and director of Diamano Coura West African Dance Company. Dr. Diouf has had a prolific career as a celebrated performer, choreographer, and educator, and educator and has worked with artists such as Katherine Dunham and has directed many ensembles, including the Mali Ensemble and Les Ballets Africains. Currently based in Oakland, CA, he continues to teach and give workshops to both students and professionals on drum-making, music analysis, African history, and dance. 

Mrs. Naomi Diouf - Born in Monrovia, Liberia, Mrs. Naomi Diouf is Artistic Director for Diamano Coura West African Dance Company and is a strong advocate for Arts-In-Education. For 15 years she has worked with the Arts Through Education programs in the San Diego, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, Oakland, Richmond, and Alameda School Districts to promote cultural literacy. An expert dancer and choreographer, Mrs. Diouf is currently teaching in Berkeley and Oakland, CA. 

Michael Morgan - Currently in his nineteenth year as Music Director of Oakland East Bay Symphony, Michael Morgan has worked with many orchestras and musical organizations to become an established leader in the classical world. He continues to do amazing work with youth across the country and is an inspiration for his community. 

Rachel Barton Pine - American violinist Rachel Barton Pine has appeared as soloist with many of the world’s most prestigious orchestras, including the Chicago, Atlanta, St. Louis, Dallas, Baltimore, Montreal, Vienna, New Zealand and Iceland Symphonies, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Rachel's foundation, (The Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation), is a charitable organization and was founded in 2001 to expand awareness of and appreciation for classical music. It provides services and funding for classical music education, research, performances, and artists, to benefit listeners and learners alike. Current projects include an instrument loan program, grants for education and career, and creation of a supplemental curriculum of music for strings by composers of African descent.

Monica Ellis - Bassoonist, Monica Ellis, is a founding member of the Grammy-nominated wind quintet Imani Winds. The group is enriching the traditional wind quintet repertoire while meaningfully bridging European, American, African and Latin American traditions. Also a passionate teacher, Ms. Ellis has served on the faculties for a number of colleges and schools and continues to give workshops and performances across the country. 

For more information on the conference and guest artists, please visit http://www.ocbmg.art.officelive.com For questions please email ocbmg@oberlin.edu.  [Rachel Barton Pine made the first U.S. CD of the music of the Afro-French composer Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) in 1997: Violin Concertos by Black Composers of the 18th & 19th Centuries; Cedille 90000 037 (1997). It is a landmark recording which remains in print, and is featured on multiple pages at AfriClassical.com]
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