More Than Just Rhythms and Sounds

Come immerse yourself in the vibrant rhythms and beats of our multicultural percussion program, where diversity meets harmony in a celebration of music from across the world.

Sunday April 28th, 2024 5pm
Neighborhood Unitarian Church
301 N. Orange Grove Blvd
Pasadena CA 91103

With performances by:

​CHRISTOPHER GARCIA
North and South India percussion & breath instruments of Mesoamerica 

​Christopher Garcia is a "native" of (East) Los Angeles. "A musical polyglot" with concerts in 28 countries and on 5 continents. Some know of his work as either a drummer/marimbist or a percussionist of the north or south Indian percussion, or a multi-instrumentalist who also plays breath, percussion, and string instruments of Mesoamerica, or as a composer of all of the above in the following musical circles: avant-garde classical, chamber and symphonic music, the indigenous and folkloric music of Mesoamerica and Mexico, jazz, and rock. Christopher attributes his musical growth to his mentors John Bergamo, Dr. Truett Hollis, and Swapan Chaudhuri where he studied western music, north Indian tabla, south Indian kanjira, ghatam and western percussion, while attending East Los Angeles College and California Institute of the Arts on a full scholarship. As a composer he continues to receive commissions for indigenous instruments of Mexico/Mesoamerica, percussion of India with classical guitar, pedal harp, piano forte, sarode, sitar, and surbahar. He continues to be in demand ​as a multi-instrumentalist employing extended techniques ​using fingers, hands and sticking in a variety of jazz, rock and world music settings. In addition to providing coaching for percussion ensembles for both chamber and symphonic performances, Christopher is a featured soloist, and serves as a resource for composers about the mechanics of composing for and playing percussion. Christopher shares the beauty and the nature of music's resonance and silence with individuals of all ages, ethnicities, and cultures, both in musical and non-musical settings.

​MALIK SOW
Master Senegal Percussion, composer, and choreographer

Master drummer, composer, and choreographer Elhadj Malik Sow, born in Dakar, Senegal, hails from the Fulani ethnic group of West Africa. Coming from a line of musicians and griots, Elhadj received training from his uncles until he was ten, and subsequently began a career in cultural exchange amongst the Jola, Bambara, Sosey, Serrer, Wolof, and others, becoming well versed in their folklore and customs. Elhadj has performed or taught traditional West African music since 1960. During his career, he has worked with the Ballet d’Afrique Noire, the National Ballet of Senegal, and Les Ballets Africains. Currently, he directs the Futa Toro West African Dance Ensemble, which tours extensively.

​SHOJI KAMEDA
Master Taiko Percussion

Shoji is a Grammy nominated musician, composer and producer. He started playing taiko at the age of 8 and has played continuously since. He was selected through a highly competitive process as an Asian Pacific Performance Exchange fellow, collaborating with master artists from the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the USA. He was also selected as an Indonesian Arts Exchange fellow which sent him and three other master arts to central Java for three weeks to teach and perform. Collaborations with international artists have taken Shoji to Malaysia, French Guiana, Mongolia and Bali. He composed an original score for Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story, Audience Award winner for Best Documentary at the Slamdance Film Festival. He was featured in the music of the hit NBC TV show “Heroes” performed with Stevie Wonder at the 2008 Democratic National Convention and received a Grammy nomination with jazz fusion band Hiroshima for his work on their album Legacy. As a founding member of On Ensemble and the group’s primary creative force he produced On Ensemble’s critically acclaimed albums Dust and Sand, Ume in the Middle and Bizarre Heroes. In 2013 On Ensemble was invited to perform at the National Theater of Japan for their prestigious “Nihon no Taiko” series. Shoji is sought after by groups throughout the taiko world for workshops, masterclasses and compositions. His compositions for taiko are performed around the world and recently Shoji has partnered with Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten to create “kaDON” a new online venture that will provide high quality instruction and repertoire for taiko and fue.

​NADIA CALMET
Afro Peruvian Percussion and Folk Dance Artist

Nadia Calmet is a professional Peruvian Folk Dance Artist, specializing in Afro-Peruvian Dances. She has more than 25 years of experience participating in cultural exchanges with organizations in more than thirty countries as a cultural representative of Peru. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality with studies in Public Policies for Vulnerable Populations, as well as in Arts Therapy and Intercultural Education and Child Development. She also has a degree in Community Artist from CAL STATE University, Los Angeles. Nadia was a member of the Millennium Theater Group (Kimba Fá - Peru). She has worked as a choreographer and soloist for the legendary singer Eva Ayllon. In 2015 Nadia participated in the Peruvian delegation with the production "PERU: Pachamama" organized by the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Additionally, she engaged in cultural exchanges with organizations such as Conjunto Folklórico Nacional in Cuba, Familia Ayala in Puerto Rico. She is a script writer, choreographer, and artistic director of more than 10 Peruvian musicals in different cities such as: Lima, Seattle, Utah and Los Angeles. She is the main initiator of the “Afro-Peruvian Cultural Day” in Los Angeles, CA, a first for the city. She has given lectures at several universities in the United States, such as: Connecticut University, Purdue University, Indiana University, UCLA among others. She is also the founder and Artistic Director of the performing arts company the “Afro-Peruvian Experience” in Los Angeles which allows her to continue to vindicate, embody, and give visibility to the cultural diversity of Peru.

​GIAN LUIGGI CORTEZ MEJIA
Musician and Tap Dancer

Cortez, is a talented and multidisciplinary 20-year-old Peruvian artist very passionate about music. He studied music and Theater at Preludio Asociación Cultural - Lima. He has had the opportunity from working with large companies and renowned singers and orchestras in Peru and abroad such as Eva Ayllón and Afro Peruvian Jazz Orchestra. He also has experience in Dance, Film and Musical Theater. Currently, Cortez resides in Los Angeles - California, United States; where he received distinction and recognition from Congress for his valuable contribution to Afro-Peruvian Culture.

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​Christopher Garcia

​Malik Sow

​Shoji Kameda

​Nadia Calmet