30 SEASONS of CEDAR MAKING A DIFFERENCE THROUGH MUSIC
When kora virtuoso Sona Jobarteh steps on to The Cedar’s stage, the crowd goes wild. She is a female pioneer,
globally recognized as one of the first women kora players
in an exclusively male tradition, and this is her first time in Minnesota. For the last seven centuries, knowledge of
the kora has been passed down only from fathers to sons. This Cedar presentation is groundbreaking.
As an artist, Sona makes a difference by sparking crucial conversations around tradition, gender, and music,
and inspiring young people to follow in her footsteps.
Your support makes it possible to bring 75+ incredible
international artists like Sona to The Cedar each year!
EXPANDING TRADITIONS C E L E B R AT I N G 3 0 S E A S O N S O F C E D A R
thecedar.org/donate
Sona Jobarteh – Gambia/UK
All photos by Pat O’Loughlin. Cover: Aynur – Turkey
4.62 It’s 1pm on a weekday afternoon in September and
The Cedar’s hall is teeming with Minneapolis high school
students. On the stage in front of them, Zhou Family Band, from East China, and SisterTree, a local Celtic/Americana
duo, pick up their instruments and begin to play together,
joining centuries-old musical traditions into a fresh new form. Education programs like this historic collaboration make
a difference by providing young people with a front-row
glimpse into the music, cultures, and histories presented
on The Cedar’s stage. Your support helps power these
programs, fostering intercultural appreciation and
understanding through music for the next generation.
LEARNING THROUGH MUSIC SCHOOL PROGRAMS • WORKSHOPS
thecedar.org/donate Zhou Family Band – East China
It’s the final night of The Cedar’s free Global Roots Festival,
and the twelve members of Lemon Bucket Orkestra,
Toronto’s genre-bending troubadours, are down on the floor
with the audience. As the band leads the whole room in an
à cappella klezmer-infused folk piece, the hall fills with unison
song, and the crowd joins together in a peaceful group hug. Events like the Global Roots Festival make a difference by
creating a free, welcoming space where community, culture,
and connection are celebrated. Your support keeps
this programming growing strong, building bridges through music year round.
WELCOMING TO ALL EVERYBODY • ALL AGES • ACCESSIBLE
thecedar.org/donate
Lemon Bucket Orkestra – Canada
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY David Hamilton Executive Director, The Cedar I was recently asked why I love music. That question feels like asking, “Why do you like air, or food?” It’s essential for life! Music has completely shaped who I am as a person. It has connected me with my emotions, helped me learn about the world around me, and sustained me in hard times.
I know I’m not unique in feeling this way. The Cedar was founded on the belief that music makes a real difference in how we understand our world and each other, broadening our horizons and encouraging us to make change. In the course of three decades, audience members and artists have come together to build on this belief.
You make The Cedar what it is today: a home for music that values cultural connections, embraces artists from all over the globe, and welcomes all.
At this moment in time, when intercultural understanding is more important than ever before, I’m proud to be part of an organization that uses the connective power of music to make a difference in our community, night after night. And, it is your support that makes this work possible. Will you make a year-end contribution to ensure the vitality of The Cedar and the continuation of this important work?
Will you donate to support another 30 years of incredible music at The Cedar? thecedar.org/donate • 612-338-2674 x 103 The Cedar is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Daymé Arocena – Cuba