The community is invited to enjoy an evening of music, food and celebration as the spring ensembles perform in a two-hour marquee event April 12 at the Canady Creative Arts Center. The concert is dedicated to the memory of Phil Faini, the founder of the WVU World Music Performance Center.
Returning to a well-received format, the African Music and Dance Ensemble and the Steel Band will perform at 6 p.m. in the Davis Theatre, followed by refreshments and music in the Blaney Lobby. Next, the Jazz Ensemble 2 and Brazilian Ensemble will join other ensembles for a performance beginning at 7 p.m. in the Davis Theatre.
All attendees are welcome to enjoy refreshments either following the first performance or prior to the second performance.
Program director Michael Vercelli said he believes the marquee format is better suited to these performances than a traditional sit-down concert. “The world music ensembles are a less formal musical experience than some of the other concerts we offer at WVU,” Vercelli said. “We value audience participation, and the marquee event allows for greater interaction between the performance and audience members.”
In honor of Faini, the African Music and Dance Ensemble will use the royal akadinda the dean emeritus personally brought back from Uganda in the 1970s, and the Steel Band will play selections from “West Side Story,” which Faini frequently performed with his percussion ensembles.
The performances will carry on Faini’s legacy of connecting Morgantown to other cultures through music. “WVU is a global university. We have students and faculty from all around the world on campus. The music and cultures represented in the world music concert showcase this diversity and help to bridge Morgantown audiences to the world,” Vercelli said. “World music performance demonstrates the variety of global cultures and recognizes the importance of diverse human experience.”
General admission to the marquee is $10, with child and senior tickets available for $5.
The World Music event is part of the College of Creative Arts Curiosity Series.