African Music and Music Education in the United States
Mensah is the Director of African Music at Macalester College, St Paul, Minnesota and directs the African Music Ensemble. He’s an ethnomusicologist, composer and “Master Drummer” from Ghana. He is also the director of the West African Music Ensemble at the University of Minnesota. He was “James Marsh Professor at Large” at the University of Vermont, Burlington from 2004-2010. Sowah has taught music in Ghana and Nigeria and played with the Ghana National Symphony Orchestra. In 2015, he received the “Distinguished Yale Music Educator Award”. He enjoys an active performance career. In May 2000, he performed in Carnegie Hall, New York as a soloist in David Fanshawe’s African Sanctus. He has performed extensively in the United States, Africa, and in Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and South America. As a composer, Sowah has compositions for Orchestra, Symphonic/Concert Band, Choirs, African Music Ensembles and works that combine the above ensembles. Sowah’s most recent work, N.N.O.A. for Symphonic Band, was commissioned by Roseville Area High School Bands, Roseville, MN and was premiered in May 2021.
Sowah has three solo albums and five books. He presents a series of workshops for music teachers every summer including World Music Drumming and workshops at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and the University of St Thomas, St Paul, Minnesota. Sowah presents clinics, workshops, and residencies at colleges, elementary, and secondary schools in the United States as well as Europe, Asia, South America, and the Caribbean.
Watch the Webinar by clicking the title above or by clicking the image. Use the passcode: c27ycF.K
Grant Writing 101 – From Idea to Application
What is one thing that all music programs have in common? You guessed it – They all need funding!
Dr. Lasaundra Booth presents her session titled “Grant Writing 101 – From Idea to Application” offering strategies for overcoming this constant problem.
Grant funds can be used for a variety of needs including professional development, equipment for your students, and hiring teaching staff for community music programs. This interactive session gives Music Educators the information needed to create a persuasive project narrative, itemized budget, and impact statement. Attendees will be encouraged to transform their draft outline into submitted applications for existing or future projects.
Watch the Webinar by clicking the title above or by clicking the image at right. Use the passcode: *cJjsNJ8
From Folk Song to Choral Literature
Participants will learn about the evolution of Latin American music with Dr. Diana V. Sáez, the Director of Choral Activities at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland. The music of Latin America is the product of many cultures mostly Native American, Spanish, and African. When the elements of these cultures combined, they created new forms of music such as cumbia, merengue and salsa. In this fun and interactive session, we will listen, sing, and learn some of these songs arranged for choirs of all levels.
Dr. Diana V. Sáez is the Director of Choral Activities at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland, directing the University Chorale, Treble Voices, and Choral Society. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Sáez served as Visiting Choir Director at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois and Visiting Choir Conductor at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. Dr. Sáez also directed the Catholic University Women’s Choir for six years and served as artistic director of the World Bank-IMF Chorus for sixteen years.
Watch the Webinar by clicking the title above or by clicking the image at right. Use the passcode: fD=eRAu1
Webinar handouts:
- Choral Songs from Latin America
- Hanacpachap – The first piece of vocal polyphony published in The Americas