C O N C E R T S
2 0 2 4
SoundoftheBorder|SonidodelaFrontera
January12-March8,2024
MesmerizingMelodiesfromThreeAncientLands
April12-June14,2024
W E L C O M E
Welcome to the 2024 concert season of the Center for World Music!
For 60 years, the Center for World Music has brought music into our hearts and rhythm into our steps, opening our minds to other cultures and people. Serving as a mirror or a window, the performing arts reflect and reveal the
This year, we offer two exciting series exploring human connection, creativity, advocacy, and the preservation of culture through musical performance. The first series, Sound of the Border | Sonido de la Frontera, is inspired by the “La Frontera” exhibit at Mingei International Museum It features musical performances that traverse geographical and cultural borders deepest human emotions, and heightening understanding and empathy among all people
The second series, Mesmerizing Melodies from Three Ancient Lands at the La Jolla Community Center, showcases the exchange of musical ideas among three distant lands connected for a millennium along ancient trade routes
We hope you enjoy the Center for World Music’s 2024 concert offerings. We thank you for supporting our mission and the musical artists we are presenting this year.
Monica Emery Executive Director Center for
World Music
The Center for World Music expresses appreciation to all of the talented artists who perform and teach world music in San Diego, thereby sharing and honoring performing arts from across the globe.
2024AMBASSADOR
FinancialsupportisprovidedbytheCityofSanDiego CommissionforArtsandCulture.
BOARDMEMBERS
Dr Timothy Rice, President
Dr. Lance Nelson, Vice President
Jake Bakke, Treasurer
Dr Bernard Ellorin
Delores Fisher
Dr David Harnish
Preston Swirnoff
Connie Kaczmarczyk
Dr Tom Johnston-O'Neill
Shari Johnston-O'Neill
Dr Purna Patnaik
Shibani Patnaik
Monica Wishard
BOARDMEMBERSEMERITUS
Dr Robert E Brown, Founder
Dr. Lewis Peterman
Prof. Danlee Mitchell
STAFF
Dr. Arkal Shenoy
Mandyam Venkatesh
Monica Emery, Executive Director
Stefanie Schmitz, Director, World Music in the Schools
Laurel Grinnell-Wilson, Assistant Director, World Music in the Schools
Letitia Rogers, Coordinator, Access to the Arts for Seniors
Edoardo Cavallero, Manager of Public Programs
Mailing:
Center for World Music
Community Performances & Workshops
The Center for World Music brings the world's performing arts to the public through a carefully curated annual concert series and free public presentations and workshops in partnerships with community institutions, museums, libraries, and other San Diego performance venues
World Music in the Schools
The CWM's youth education program facilitates cross-cultural learning opportunities in the performing arts traditions of the world. Master artists teach and perform for an estimated 10,000 students annually in K-12 San Diego area schools
Access to the Arts for Seniors
This special program presents the world’s performing arts on location in affordable housing facilities fo limited access to cultural enrichment.
Odissi Dance School
In collaboration with the Orissa Dance Academy (Odisha, India) the CWM brings visiting artists from India to San Diego for extended teaching residencies facilitated through our Odissi Dance School.
SoundoftheBorder|SonidodelaFronterais centeredaroundthevibrantculturaldynamism alongtheU.S.-Mexicoborder.Inspiredbythe'La Frontera'exhibitatMingeiInternationalMuseum,this seriesexploreslifeinthisborderlandasexpressedin musicalperformance.
Itshowcaseshowmusicactsasapowerfulformof activismandasameanstocelebratetherich culturalheritageoftheinhabitantsonbothsides. SonidodelaFronterahighlightsthetransformative roleofmusicasaunifyingforceandresonateswith theresilience,thestories,andthesharedhuman experiencesthatdefinethisuniqueculturalspace. Thiscelebrationhonorsthedistinctiveyet interwovenessenceofdiverseculturesonboth sidesoflafrontera.
Friday,January12th
7:30PM
Friday,February9th 7:30PM Friday,March8th 7:30PM
UNITING CULTURES THROUGH DRUMS AND PERCUSSION
Drummers Without Borders
Drummers Without Borders
nurtures inclusivity and diversity through rhythmic journeys inspired by cultures worldwide. They use the unique characteristics of percussion instruments and drums as a medium to acquire and share knowledge and to promote respect, cooperation, and solidarity.
"Artistically, we want to create without limits; musically, we don't want to be attached to a specific tradition, style, form, or school; … and socially, we want to have the ability to collaborate with communities of all social and cultural backgrounds," said Felix Diaz in a 2023 interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Drummers Without Borders has performed extensively, including Centro Cultural Tijuana, La Jolla Music Society, and the San Diego Convention Center, in partnership with the Artemis Project for migrant girls from Central America. Drummers Without Borders comprises two generations of the Diaz family, including Felix and his sons Silvio and Abril.
In 2004, the collective of musicians, educators, and artists started a program introducing music to elementary school students with special needs. Through the universal language of rhythm, they created a space where every student, regardless of their background, could feel accomplished and engaged. Drummers Without Borders strives to develop projects focusing on music, education, community, health, and environment, transcending geographical boundaries to create a more inclusive world for future generations.
SONGS AND ACTIVISM IN THE BORDERLANDS
Martha Gonzalez is a Chicana artivista (artist/activist) musician, feminist music theorist, and Associate Professor n the Intercollegiate Department of Chicana/o Latina/o Studies at Scripps/Claremont College. Born and raised in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights, Gonzalez is a MacArthur Fellow, Fulbright Garcia Robles, Ford, Woodrow Wilson Fellow and United States Artist Fellow
been fueled by her own musicianship ercussionist for Grammy Award winning band Quetzal The relevance of Quetzal’s music and lyrics have been noted in a range of publications, from dissertations to scholarly books. Their latest recording “Puentes Sonoros” (Sonic Bridges) was released on Smithsonian Folkways in the fall of 2020. Gonzalez, along with her partner Quetzal Flores, has been instrumental in catalyzing the transnational dialogue between Chicanx/Latinx communities in the U.S and Jarocho communities in Veracruz, Mexico
Gonzalez has also been active in implementing the collective songwriting method in correctional facilities throughout the U.S. Most recently, and as a testament to the body of music and community work Gonzalez has created on and off the stage, in the summer of 2017 Gonzalez’s tarima (stomp box) and zapateado dance shoes were acquired by the National Museum of American History and are on permanent display in the One Nation Many Voices exhibit.
Finally, Gonzalez’s first manuscript Chican@ Artivistas: Music, Community, and Transborder Tactics in East Los Angeles was published by the University of Texas Press. She is currently Scripps Humanities Institute director. Gonzalez lives in Los Angeles with her husband Quetzal Flores and their 18 year-old son, Sandino.
Tylana Enomoto
Come along for an exciting journey through the diverse music and culture of Los Angeles with the multi-talented Tylana Enomoto. Her unparalleled skill as a Grammy award-winning artist has captivated audiences worldwide, and collaborations with revered musicians such as Kamasi Washington, Kendrick Lamar, Ariana Grande, Lupe Fiasco, and Bonobo have cemented her as a highly esteemed musician.
Tylana Enomoto’s artistic vision extends far beyond music as she utilizes her rich cultural heritage to create immersive artistic expressions that take you on a sublime journey. Combining her musical artistry with her work as an associate clinical social worker, Enomoto is dedicated to supporting survivors of violence, utilizing her platform to create awareness and advocate for change.
Experience one of LA’s most talented musicians and advocates and prepare to be mesmerized by the incredible melodies of her violin and the emotional strength of her artistry.
CELEBRATING MEXICAN MUSICAL HERITAGE
Hermanos Herrera
Hermanos Herrera is a family group consisting of five brothers and their younger sister. They play various styles of traditional Mexican music including Son Huasteco, Son Jarocho, and Música norteña. The group performs with an energetic style that is both passionate and exhilarating.
United by blood and love of their art, Hermanos Herrera see themselves as creating the future of regional Mexican music. Third-generation Mexican-Americans, they grew up in a family of musicians in Fillmore, California. Motivated by their family’s devotion to traditional music, the siblings made frequent trips to Mexico, immersing themselves in a quarter century of mentorship with preeminent performers of Son Huasteco and Son Jarocho, two favorite forms of Mexico’s rich musical heritage.
They bring youthful exuberance, authenticity, and a contemporary twist to their presentation of traditional musical styles, while striving at the same time to be true representatives of Mexico’s rich musical landscape. For being ambassadors of Son Huasteco, the group was awarded the “Sol Poniente” Lifetime Achievement Award in Veracruz, Mexico.
In addition to their musical accomplishments, Hermanos Herrera have maintained an active presence in their home community of Fillmore. Through their music, they have raised over $120,000 for local charities and have assisted in numerous fundraising and community service events, educating children and assisting those in need.
Inthisconcertseriesweexplorethreetraditionsthat haveexchangedmusicalideasforcenturiesalong ancienttraderoutesfromWesternChinathrough CentralAsia,theIndiansubcontinent,theMiddle East,andNorthAfricaallthewaytoMoroccoand SouthernSpain.
Throughoutthishugeareaoftheglobe,melodyis king.Wewillbetreatedtotheincrediblyvirtuosic melodiesofSouthIndianclassical(Carnatic)music; thehaunting,emotionallychargedmelodiesof Persianclassicalmusic;andtheextraordinarily subtle,delicateelaborationof“microtonal” melodiesinTurkishclassicalmusic.
Eachperformanceinthisseriespromisesan immersiveodysseyintotheverynatureofmelody anditsabilitytotouchthehumanheartandfillthe soulsoflisteners,nomatterwhereintheworldthey comefrom.
Friday,April12th 7:30PM Friday,May10th 7:30PM Friday,June14th 7:30PM
Rose Muralikrishnan
Dr Rose Muralikrishnan is an outstanding singer in the Carnatic musical tradition of South India.
Trained by the legendary Dr. Madras Lalithangi Vasanthakumari, a pioneering figure in Carnatic music, she continues the legacy of pushing boundaries for women in the field, paving the way for mainstream recognition of female musicians.
She has performed and conducted music at many international music festivals and at some of the finest music venues around the world Her compositions won Gold Awards at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Sydney Opera House, where she was a conductor and director of the Indian Ensemble.
Dr. Muralikrishnan also worked at San Diego State University in 1991 as an adjunct professor of South Indian music at the Department of World Music. She served the community at large through music performances and lecture demonstrations to promote Indian music and culture in the United States. Prior to moving to the United States, she also presented her expert interpretations of Indian classical music at major Indian sabhas (musical gatherings).
Her achievements as a musician, her role as an educator at esteemed institutions, and her contributions to international music education ensure the perpetuation of this rich cultural heritage for generations to come.
She will be joined by Carnatic veena and keyboard virtuoso N. Muralikrishnan on the veena, Carnatic and Western vocalist Dr. Amrithavarshini Muralikrishnan on Carnatic vocals, keyboard and veena, and a mridangam artist on rhythmic accompaniment.
Namâd Ensemble
classical music. Based in San Diego since 1984, he has studied under the tutelage of world-renowned virtuosi Mohammad Reza Lotfi and Hossein Alizadeh. These studies have been the source of his unique approach to the art of Iranian music.
Taghavi’s passionate and melodic approach to music is the foundation of his many collaborations and recordings with numerous artists, performing both traditional and modern forms of Iranian music. His collaborative projects with master musicians and international and local cultural organizations help fulfill his lifelong commitment to raising awareness of the importance of music in people’s lives.
A founding member of Namaad Ensemble, he has toured throughout the US, Europe, and Asia. His collaborations with renowned master artists such as Hossein Omoumi, poets Robert Bly and Coleman Barks, and prestigious cultural organizations such as the Konya Mystic Music Festival in Turkey, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the San Diego Museum of Art, and the Carlsbad and Del Mar Music festivals are a few highlights of his efforts to introduce Persian classical music and poetry to a broad audience.
Kourosh teaches setar and voice throughout California, as well as lecturing, composing original music for plays and pieces based on contemporary Iranian poetry, holding music workshops, and recording. These and numerous other endeavors are expressions of his passionate quest to promote Persian classical music.
Pejman Hadadi is an innovative Iranian percussionist renowned for his expertise in tombak (vase-shaped drum) and daf (frame drum). His musical journey began at the age of 10 under the guidance of Masters Assadollah Hejazi and Bahman Rajabi. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1989, Hadadi embarked on a professional career in 1991, collaborating with various ensembles and ultimately joining the acclaimed Dastan Ensemble in 1995. In 2000, he cofounded ZARBANG, the first Iranian percussion ensemble, achieving international recognition.
Hadadi's collaborations extend globally, including performances with renowned musicians and exploration of rhythms from diverse cultures. His distinct contributions to tombak playing include innovative techniques and the creation of custom frame drums. Notable achievements include a collaboration with renowned drum manufacturer, REMO, which enhanced the popularity of daf worldwide. Beyond his performing career, Hadadi is an accomplished educator, receiving the Durfee Foundation Master Musician Award twice. He founded the Neyreez World Music Institute in 1999 and currently serves as a visiting professor at UCLA's Department of Ethnomusicology.
Saeed Kamjoo, a skilled composer and kamanche (bowed fiddle) player, adeptly merges tradition with innovation in his music. While deeply rooted in Persian classical music, Kamjoo explores new realms, incorporating ornamentation from the tradition to uncover fresh possibilities in his kamanche playing. Trained rigorously by masters like A. Kamkar, A. Shekarchi and Ustad A. Bahari, he graduated from the University of Tehran and delved into the study of Persian musical manuscripts and ancient rhythmic modes.
Kamjoo has showcased his talents in international festivals across North America and Europe, including appearances at Sound Symposium in Canada and Sacra Musica Festival in Germany. Since immigrating to Montreal in 1997, he has collaborated with creative ensembles worldwide and received grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.
Münir Beken
Dr. Münir Nurettin Beken is an invaluable contributor to both the performance and scholarship of Turkish music. His mastery of the ud, a traditional Turkish short-necked, plucked lute, reflects his commitment to preserving and sharing his homeland's rich musical heritage.
His career spans theory, composition, ethnomusicology, and performance. As a composer, he has written a statecommissioned ballet suite for orchestra, won awards for film music, scored television documentaries both domestically and internationally, and composed concertos for ud and symphony orchestra, which he performs around the world.
An Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology at the UCLA
Herb Alpert School of Music, his scholarly work focuses on melodic modal theory. He also conducts research on musical globalization and the phenomenology of music. He has published in Ethnomusicology, a premier journal in the field, and contributed to The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. He was also one of the founding members of the State Turkish Music Ensemble.
FRIENDS OF THE CENTER
$5,000 AND UP
Julie & Matt Braskin Harelson
Timothy & Ann Rice
$1,000 TO $4,999
Lawrence Cohen
Mary Dawe
Lance & Gabo Nelson
Donald Paradise
Purna & Gopa Patnaik
Joyce Ross
Connie Kaczmarczyk
Congressman Juan Vargas
Susanna & Pedro Villegas
$500 TO $999
Delores Fisher
Nasser Manesh
Arkal & Vasanthi Shenoy
UP TO $499
Christopher & Supeena Insee Adler
Bird Rock Artist Guild
Jake Bakke
Bob Benzel
Margrit Bickelmann
Gwynne Bruck
Arline Chambers
Tamia & Rowshan Dowlatabadi
Christopher & Monica Emery
Rusty Gillette
David Harnish
Andrea Harris
Theresa Lambert
Lucy Lehman
Pam Lipton
Donna & Elliot Marshall, Jr
Michael Murphy
Rajen Patel
Mary Earnest & Jonathan Parker
Letitia Rogers
Liz and David Rogers
Vanya Russell
Richard Schulman
Kiran Shelat
Gerry Sullivan
Carol and Lawrence Veit
Patricia Warner
Michael Welch
And special thanks to our donors who prefer to remain anonymous.
MAKE A DONATION
We are proud of our array of programs, especially our long-standing school music program. Please consider supporting our initiatives and sharing in our mission to promote empathy and understanding through the world’s performing arts. Your contribution would be deeply appreciated by the musicians and the audiences we bring together.
I hope you will consider a gift in 2024.
Timothy Rice, Board President Center for World Music
Tear this page from your program and return it to the Center for World Music. Or donate online at centerforworldmusic.org/donate or through the Venmo QR code
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