Artist in Residence 2023-24

Global Music Initiative Artist-in-Residence Program for Musicians & Music Educators


Now in its fourth 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 2023-24 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. The list of performing artists is coming soon!

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 2023-24 GMI Performing Artists in Residence

Performing artists in residence coming soon!

Meet the 2023-24 GMI Teaching Artists in Residence

Terrell Woods / Carnage the Executioner

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 students 

Availability: 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.

Fode and Whitney Bangoura

Program Description: West African Drumming with Fode and Whitney Bangoura.

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

Soojin Lee

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.

Watch a performance

Minnesota State Arts Board logo

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

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