Artist in Residence 2022-23
Global Music Initiative Artist-in-Residence Program for Musicians & Music Educators
Now in its third year, the GMI Artist-in-Residence Program offers multiple yearlong residencies at MacPhail Center for Music to foster cultural change in our communities through passion and creativity in music. Believing that supporting and investing in diverse voices elevates current standards of music education pedagogy, this program is a commitment to becoming a deeply inclusive organization by giving diverse voices a platform to share their creative stories, challenge ideas, and foster community-centered growth.
Selected recipients are provided artistic and educational opportunities to promote a culturally thriving tomorrow. Chosen projects foster innovation and cultural equity. The contributions of all styles and traditions are welcome.
The 2022-23 Artist in Residence Program offers two tracks: performing artist and teaching artist
TRACK ONE: GMI Performing Artist in Residence
The goal of track one is to provide performance opportunities outside of the classical canon that represent people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and women.
TRACK TWO: GMI Teaching Artists in Residence
There is a high demand for MacPhail’s Global Music Initiative artists to visit area schools, and through MacPhail’s Project Amplify, we are helping to meet this need. Teaching artist-in-residence musicians will engage today’s youth through meaningful and impactful experiences through the creation of inclusive curricula and/or presentation of teaching methods outside of the classical canon.
Meet the 2022-23 GMI Performing Artists in Residence
Pooja Goswami Pavan
Dr. Pooja Goswami Pavan is a Hindustani (North Indian classical) classical vocalist, composer, and teacher. Her silky yet strong voice has the capability to move in three octaves effortlessly. Her intensive training in the Hindustani classical idiom has allowed her to broaden her ability to sing in a variety of genres with ease.
Growing up in an environment of music and theater, she developed a deep interest in composing music to verses in Hindi and Urdu. The versatility in Pooja’s repertoire is evident in her ability to sing Thumri, Dadra, Ghazal, Bhajan, Sufiana Kalam and folk genres such as the Hori, Chaiti & Kajri besides the Khayal. Pooja was trained in Hindustani music by Pandit Surendra Goswami, Prof. Ajit Singh Paintal, and continues her advanced training in Khayal with her brother Prof. Shailendra Goswami. She has also been trained in semi-classical music by the eminent vocalist, the late Vidushi Shanti Hiranand.
Pooja received a Ph.D. in Indian Classical Music from the University of Delhi. She has performed at many prestigious venues such as The Ordway Center, The Guthrie, The India Habitat Center and The India International Center. Among her many acclaimed performances are ones at The Learnquest Music Conference (Boston), International Music Festival (Vietnam) and The Indian Classical Music Festival (The Bahamas). Since coming to Minnesota, she has made a name for herself with several successful collaborations with USA based artists of diverse genres.
An active composer, she frequently creates works and performs for many leading music, dance and theater organizations including the Pangea World Theater, Ananya Dance Theater, Indian Music Society of Minnesota and Katha Dance Theater. Pooja has several recordings featuring her original compositions of Bhajan, Ghazal and Sufiana Kalam. She is much sought-after by educational and arts institutions for her Lecture-Demonstrations on Hindustani music. She has also served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota’s School of Music and The Music Department at Macalester college, teaching graduate level courses in Indian music, history and culture. Her creative work has been supported with numerous grants and commissions from multiple arts agencies such as the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, American Composers Forum and Cedar Cultural Center. She was recognized with the prestigious McKnight Fellowship for Musicians by the McKnight Foundation for excellence in her art.
Lucia Sarmiento is a young Peruvian saxophonist, composer and educator, based in the United States.
Currently, Lucia tours with international pop star Pitbull, has a single out called “Escape”, and is working on her debut full-length album coming out in 2022.
In recent years, Lucia has gained a massive social media following posting videos showing her charisma and skills as a saxophone and EWI player.
Lucia has worked as an ambassador for brands like Yamaha, Akai, Theo Wanne, RS Berkeley, BG, Jean-Paul USA, Syos, Key Leaves among others.
Growing up in South America and living in the US for the past 9 years, Lucia has been exposed to a broad variety of rhythms and styles of music, but her passion has always been jazz and 80’s fusion.
Her music is the expression of a diverse musical upbringing, fused with her own sensibility for angular, yet beautiful melodies.
Arthur “L.A.” Buckner’s deep infatuation with music began at an early age. At 3, he would practically go an entire church service without looking away from the drums. His father took notice and shortly thereafter purchased his first drum kit.
L.A. is a performing musician, teaching artist, and producer from the Northside of Minneapolis. He holds a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from McNally Smith College of Music, and is a teacher for the MacPhail Center for Music, and the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. Currently, LA serves as co-host for the PBS music education YouTube series “Sound Field”.
In August of 2020, LA took iTunes by storm with the release of his project BiG HOMiE, which reached the #1 Jazz position within 24 hours of its release.
His artistry is full of energy, excitement, culture and excellence.
Yohannes Tona was born in Awassa, a vibrant city in Southern Ethiopia where he acquired his early education as well as musical influences of Western Gospel, Reggae, Ethiopian traditional and popular sounds. He taught himself how to play the guitar by watching his parents choir rehearsal at his house. This led to his first performance opportunities mostly around the local churches and school.
In his early teens he was involved in an international evangelical crusade that came to his town as well as producing his mother’s album, opportunities that gave him national recognition in the Ethiopian church scene.
Shortly after, he moved to the capital Addis where he would pursue musical education at Yared Music School as well as immerse himself in the rich music scene. This was later followed by a scholarship to his dream school, Berklee College of Music, in Boston.
He spent nearly two productive years at Berklee before landing an opportunity to be a music director at Ethiopian Evangelical Church in St. Paul where he would settle and start a family.
Since the early 2000s, Yohannes has slowly built himself a name as a band leader and a sideman, performing along with many legendary Minneapolis artists and international musicians. Such names include Dr. Mambo’s Combo, Nachito Herrera, Jef Lee Johnson, The Sounds of Blackness, The Steeles and many more. Yohannes’ current calendar includes tours with national acts such as Stokley, Cory Wong, Dave Koz, and the band, NorthStar to mention a few.
While being grateful for the incredible experience of playing big stages with such great names, Yohannes believes he has the responsibility of sharing his original music with the world. Music that reflects his Ethiopian/African roots and the American experience.
Meet the 2022-23 GMI Teaching Artists in Residence
Program Description:
This presentation/clinic in schools will be a collaboration between a Twin Cities metro high school and Krysta. Interested students will participate in a recording arts workshop with a culminating performance/open mic that incorporates community space. Students will create solo and collaborative art pieces that express their creativity in a themed performance at the end of the weekly series. The workshop will focus on music history and various learning techniques, and using artistic identity tools for creative expression.
Especially Recommended for high school music classrooms
Availability: Krysta will be scheduling a series of workshop sessions with high schools. Please reach out to Morgan Huenink at Huenink.morgan@macphail.org for more information.Location: Metro area, in-person or online
About the Artist
Krysta “K.Raydio” Rayford is a vocalist, producer and teaching artist based in Minneapolis, MN. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Krysta is an accomplished singer/songwriter who incorporates topics regarding social justice into her art and her workshops. Her music has been featured internationally on platforms such as VH1, BBC Radio, and Okayplayer. Krysta was a featured performing artist at Soundset Music Festival in 2014, one of the largest hip-hop music festivals in the United States. She has taught and led workshops for Minneapolis Public Schools, Kulture Klub Collaborative, Twin Cities Mobile Jazz, She Rock She Rock and many other schools and organizations in Minnesota. Krysta is currently an Ableton software instructor for Beats By Girlz MN, an organization that empowers women in sound production. Her introductory class was one of the only Ableton courses geared towards women and non-binary adults in the United States. She recently released her collaborative album …And The World Weeps with producer Shrimpnose, in addition to a series of self-produced EPs (The Sync Series) in 2019.
Krysta is an Electronic Music Recording Arts (EMRA) faculty instructor at MacPhail Minneapolis. She has years of experience as voice over talent with a unique background in Audio Description narration. Her credits include Empire (FOX), A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO), Independent Lens (PBS), Barbie’s Dreamhouse Adventures (Netflix), and Around The Way (Hulu).
Program Description:
My HUMAN BEAT BOXING, RAPPING & PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUES courses will focus briefly on the origins of Hip-Hop as a culture and its key elements. Human Beat Boxing (Vocal Percussion) concepts will be taught to ensure skill-building for grades K through 12. Songwriting, the building of stage presence, and audience engagement tactics will encourage grades 6 through 12 to confidently perform live. Both clinics are also adaptable for college-level participants. OPTIONAL DETAIL: Each student will celebrate their accomplishments during culminating showcases that boast collaborations with their peers.
Especially Recommended for K-6 studentsAvailability: Many dates are available starting the week of 11/14/2022 through the spring semester of 2023. Availability for one session or a workshop series. Please reach out to Morgan Huenink at Huenink.Morgan@Macphail.org to schedule a workshop series.
Location: Within the metro area and up to 1.5 hours outside of the metro; in-person or online (online classes can only be 1 session)About the Artist
Terrell Woods / Carnage The Executioner has spent almost 30 years making music, motivational speaking, performing live as a one-man band, touring the world and working with both youth and adults from various socio-economic backgrounds. He possesses a knack for producing intense, thought-provoking music and establishing strong, healthy relationships. 16 years of teaching human beat boxing/vocal percussion, song writing and composing short stage plays has helped Terrell build an impressive artist resume that extends all the way to Europe (5 tours between 2011 and 2013) and Asia (toured in 2018). Terrell stands firm in his support and practice of positive self-expression, and nurturing leadership skills building. He also speaks in favor of a social justice, human rights and advocacy for the lives and well-being of animals. Terrell encourages mentees to seek personal and artistic growth through education and music – just as he has done for himself. He emits heart-warming, down-to-earth energy when speaking on his experiences around living in poverty and surviving all forms of abuse – as well as growing up in the foster care system as a youth, in welcoming settings. Terrell’s professional services are highly-respected wherever they are implemented. MacPhail Center For Music, COMPAS and SteppingStone Theatre employee contract and consistently contract home for instruction. Even though he plays over 100 live shows a year, Terrell still finds time to teach private lessons, book his own national tours and be a father.
Visit Terrell Woods/Carnage the Executioner faculty page to hear him discuss his work or watch a performance.
Program Description: West African Drumming with Fode Bangoura
An introduction to the djembe and doun doun. Practice basic hand technique, patterns, and timing, while learning traditional rhythms from Guinea West Africa. Learn the cultural background and significance of the drums and rhythms taught in class.
Especially Recommended for K-12 students in music classrooms.Instruments: Students participating must each have a drum. Fode will supply 10 drums, and the school may use its supply of hand drums.
Availability: Spring semester 2023. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday after 1 PM, and Monday and Wednesday morningsLocation: Metro area, in-person
About the Artist
Born in Conakry, Guinea, Fodé Bangoura has been recognized internationally for his work as the lead drummer with the acclaimed ensemble “Les Merveilles de Guinée”. A protege of the late, Mohamed Kemoko Sano, Fodé is now one of the most respected and sought-after drummers of his generation. Teaching and performing in Japan, China, Europe, and across the U.S., Fode brings a unique energy and electricity to audiences around the world. He has toured with some of the biggest names in African music such as Sekouba Bambino and Sekouba Kandia Kouyate. In 2007 Fode was honored to have a featured spot on MTV during the celebration of Black History Month and performed at the prestigious Apollo Theater in a Tribute to Bob Marley. In 2007 Fode Co-founded Duniya Drum & Dance Company and began the Fakoly Dance and Drum Project, an annual drum and dance conference held in Minneapolis, MN giving students the opportunity to study and perform with the best of the best in Guinea drum and dance. Fode continues to search for new ways to share his unique art form with others and to bring his rich culture to the world.
Read about Fodé Bangoura, Star Tribune
Program Description: Choose between two project areas.
Project 1: Learn and Enjoy Korean Songs!
1. I will develop a curriculum comprised of selections of Korean songs that can be easily taught in school classes. I will provide selections of Korean songs with background information, lyric pronunciation, lyric translation, pronunciation video, song teaching video, etc. via Google drive. *I already have a Google drive that has teaching materials for several Korean songs. I will add more songs for more available choices.
2. Music teachers can select songs they want to teach their students. I will provide more information or materials upon request.
3. After students learn a Korean song, I will visit the school and play the song with the students. I will also hold a gayageum concert for the students. The concert day can be a community gathering opportunity, too.
Project 2: Hello SamulNori!
1. I will create a Google Drive that has teaching materials for Korean drumming, SamulNori. The teaching materials will include background information on Korean drumming, performance videos, video, and notation of simple Korean traditional rhythms (called jangdan). Teachers can teach their students to play Korean rhythms using the provided teaching material.
2. After students learn Korean rhythms using their hands or classroom instruments, I will visit the school and bring Korean drums. Students will have an opportunity to play the rhythms on the Korean drums.
Especially Recommended for elementary and middle school music classrooms.
Note: Dr. Lee will send materials ahead of time to music teachers for preparation.
Availability: Dr. Lee will be scheduling workshop series of 2-3 sessions with schools. Please reach out to Morgan Huenink at Huenink.morgan@macphail.org for more information.
Location: Between Rochester and the Metro area, in-person
About the Artist
Dr. SooJin Lee is a professional performer and instructor on the gayageum (a traditional Korean string instrument- pronounced /ka-ya-kum/), Korean drumming, piano, and general music at MacPhail Center for Music. Dr. Lee has over 20 years of teaching experience, including general music instruction for high school students in Korea, private instruction of gayageum and piano, and a residency of Korean music and drumming in American schools. As a performer, her accolades include solo and ensemble work with western musicians in various venues. A special collaboration with soprano Dr. Mikyoung Park led to forming Duo VoGa (Voice and Gayageum). The duo has performed together for many years and released their debut album Yearning for Love: Reimagining Korean Traditional Art Songs in 2018. The Duo VoGa is currently working on a second album. Dr. Lee’s passion is to introduce gugak (Korean music) help people to understand different cultures and values through musical experience. Dr. Lee believes that experience with and understanding just one musical culture can be a bridge to many different cultures and their musical traditions. For that purpose, Dr. Lee enjoys discovering new and accessible ways to teach and explain gugak while respecting its uniqueness. Before coming to the United States, Dr. Lee worked for the National Korean Traditional Music High School as a gayageum and general music teacher. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Korean music (specializing in gayageum performance) from Seoul National University, South Korea, and a master’s degree in Social Sciences (specializing in Ethnomusicology) from the University of California, Irvine. She received her Ph.D. in music education (research interests are multicultural music education and pedagogy for teaching Indigenous music in the formal education system) at the University of Minnesota.
Program Description:
Yonathan works to create unique bridges between different musical contexts to show the shared experience of people of various backgrounds. He composes and performs with the Ethiopian lens that he grew up with as well as all the cultures he’s been exposed to since moving to Minnesota. The performance will share Ethiopian culture, music, and dance, as Yonathan shares his experiences being a musician from Ethiopia and moving to Minnesota. He will share what it is like to be a musician and explore diverse music experiences in Minnesota.
Especially Recommended for any K-12 school, recommended for larger assemblies
Availability:
Location: Metro area and some availability outside of the metro. Please email Morgan Huenink at Huenink.morgan@macphail.org if your school is outside the metro area. In-Person
About the Artist
Yonathan Bekure is a songwriter and bass player that was born and raised in Africa (Ethiopia). He moved to Minnesota shortly before he turned 18. He grew up on Ethiopian and other African music that came from the Ethiopian culture which partially shaped him. A few years after moving to the Twin Cities, he started working as a bass player in the Ethiopian music scene as well as the variety of cultures he has since come across (Gospel, Soul, Reggae…).He has written and produced recordings as part of a group. His debut EP titled “Every Part Of You” debuted at the end of 2021.Yonathan Bekure’s album Every Part of You is available to stream on iHeart.
Program Description:
During this engaging program, Siama Matuzungidi sings and plays acoustic guitar and traditional African instruments like Mbira and Balafon while his wife Dallas plays Congolese shakers and encourages everyone to sing along in Lingala and Kikongo, practicing fun African singing styles like call-and-response, layering, repeating, beat boxing and yodeling. The music is framed by charming stories about their trip to Congo and the program makes students feel like they’re along on the journey too.
Especially Recommended for K-12 students
Availability: Various dates throughout the 22-23 school year. Please visit the booking site for more information. This artist must be booked for at least 3 class periods at your school.
Location: Metro area and within 2 hours of the Metro; in-person or online
About the Artist
Siama Matuzungidi grew up in rural DR Congo (formerly Zaire) where music was integral to every aspect of life. His family sat outside in the evenings, telling stories and singing under the stars. Drums and balafon conveyed messages and fueled celebrations. Thumb piano provided lullabies and companionship on long walks. At age 12, Siama started teaching himself guitar by playing along to an exciting new style of music on the radio called, “Soukous”. At age 17, he moved to Kinshasa and was quickly enlisted by his favorite band. Siama was an in-demand studio and touring musician, recording hundreds of songs and touring the world with popular Soukous artists. After living in Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Dubai and Japan, he moved to MN in 1996 where he’s earned a McKnight Fellowship and numerous grants, he’s been featured in BBC, TPT, and NPR and his kids’ album won a Parents’ Choice award. In addition to concerts, Siama and his wife Dallas earned World Music Pedagogy certificates from Smithsonian Folkways and they host university and k-12 educational programs, often through their affiliations with MacPhail, MPR, Schubert Club and COMPAS. He’s known for his intricate guitar, catchy songs, spirited vocals and traditional African instruments.
Watch Siama Matuzungidi | Live Performance | Twin Cities PBS Lowertown Line
Program Description:
Ernest Bisong’s class exposes students to the elements of music within the context of digital music production. Using loops as well as a step sequencer, we will learn how to make drum beats as well as bass lines, chords, and melodies to go with them. We will talk about backbeats and recreate some of the most iconic patterns in pop music. Also, we will discuss notes and scales and how they can be used to create melodies, chords, and bass lines.
Especially Recommended for music classrooms in grades 2-5.
Equipment needed: Students will need access to a tablet and headphones.
Availability: Fridays during the school day during the 22-23 school year
Location: Metro area; in-person or online
About the Artist
Ernest Bisong is a violinist, composer, educator, and teaching artist. Introduced to the violin at age nine in Nigeria, he has studied with several notable tutors and performers including Rachel Barton-Pine (American violinist), Sir Godfrey Amoah (Ghanaian violinist), Louis Jones (British violinist), Agnes Nagy (Hungarian cellist), and Thomas Kanitz (cellist of the Reger String Quartet and Dortmund Symphony).
In July 2013, he became the first Nigerian to obtain performance diploma certification from the Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music in London with a distinction. He has a master’s in violin performance from the McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul Minnesota where he studied with Randy Sabien (jazz violin), Daria T. Adams (violinist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra), and Pete Whitman (saxophonist). He holds K-12 teaching licensure and a Master’s in Education from the from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul MN. Ernest performed at the African Leadership Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with the illustrious Bez (2011). He performed as part of the Nigerian contingent at the African Showcase of the SXSW in Austin, TX (2012). He’s opened for Richard Bona, Mike Stern, Marcus Johnson, Marsha Ambrosius, and Anita Baker. Ernest is a member of Minneapolis String Project, a high-energy string trio of violin, cello, and guitar which deviates from the standard repertoire of classical or bluegrass instruments and instead draws from jazz, fusion, rock, soul, folk, and Brazilian music influences. This group’s EP, Stone Arch Strings, was released in 2019.
Watch a masterclass with Greg Byers (Cello) & Ernest Bisong (Violin) Master Class – sponsored by Twin Cities Jazz Fest Series