The WVU World Music Performance Center will present its spring World Music Concert at the Creative Arts Center, focusing on contemporary arrangements for traditional ensembles, including music from Trinidad, Ghana, Guinea, Brazil, Uganda, and Appalachia.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 11, in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre.

WVU ensembles participating include the African Music and Dance Ensemble, Steel Band, Brazilian Ensemble, and the Bluegrass Band.

Directed by Michael Vercelli and graduate students Jamie Sunshine, Mitch Greco and Juliana Vita, the concert will also feature Travis Stimeling, director of the Bluegrass Band.

“Highlighting the concert will be arrangements of the Maracatu music from the Northeast of Brazil by Brazilian graduate student, Juliana Vita,” Dr. Vercelli said. “Also, the WVU African Music and Dance Ensemble will showcase the traditional 17-key xylophone, or akadinda, from the royal Bugandan court of Uganda.”

Vercelli, holds a doctorate of musical arts in ethnomusicology from the University of Arizona. He has studied the traditional music of other countries and done fieldwork in Bali, Cuba, Brazil and primarily in Ghana.

Dr. Travis Stimeling is a native of West Virginia and holds a bachelor’s degree in music from West Virginia Wesleyan, a master’s degree in music history from the WVU School of Music, and a doctorate in musicology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research focuses on the history of country music, recording practice, and the intersections of music and environmental issues. He is active as a bluegrass and old-time musician.

Tickets for the World Music Concert are $10 for the general public and $5 for students. For tickets and information, contact the Mountainlair and CAC Box Office at (304) 293-SHOW.

-WVU-

cl/04/09/15

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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