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| American cultural envoy conducts jazz workshops, concerts in Addis Ababa Under the auspices of the Cultural Envoy program of the United States Department of State, American jazz musician and composer Ken Schaphorst has spent nearly three weeks in Ethiopia performing with Ethiopian jazz, folkloric and modern musicians and sharing American and Ethiopian musical traditions and experience. According to a press release US Embassy in Ethiopia, Schaphorst, head of the Jazz Department at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, conducted jazz performance workshops with students at the Mekane Yesus Jazz School, the African Jazz School, and the Yared School of Music at Addis Ababa University and with professional musicians from the National Theater and Ethiopian police and military bands. Each of the workshops culminated in a concert, including an unusual outdoor performance held in the park in front of the National Theater on June 16 before an enthusiastic crowd of Ethiopian jazz lovers. At the concerts, Schaphorst and Ethiopian musicians have played Schaphorst's own compositions as well as renditions of Ethiopian classics such as Mulatu Astatke's Yekermo Sew and the well-known folk tune Amalele. With selected musicians from each of the workshops, Schaphorst also organized an ensemble to play special concerts at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Entoto and at St. Mary's University College. Schaphorst is facilitating a discussion among Ethiopian jazz and music school faculties at the Yared School of Music on June 30 on developing jazz curriculums and programs. Schaphorst went to several of Addis' famous jazz clubs and cultural restaurants and also had the opportunity to travel outside of Ethiopia's capital to visit the historic sites of Axum and Lalibela. Of his intensive experience in Ethiopia, Schaphorst commented: "I have been extremely impressed by the level of jazz performance that I have heard in Addis Ababa. While working with Ethiopian students, faculty and professional jazz players, I have been continually struck by their enthusiasm and dedication." "In addition to hearing evidence of the more traditional jazz styles, I am heartened and encouraged by the continuing commitment to the Ethiopian influence on jazz, initiated over 40 years ago by the legendary Mulatu Astatke. I have thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Ethiopia. My visit to Axum and Lalibela only reinforced my growing respect for the rich cultural history of this country. In the future, I will do whatever I can to support and build on the strong musical foundation that I have witnessed here." The U.S. State Department's Cultural Envoy program supports American performing and visual artists, arts managers and educators during short-term residencies abroad to conduct workshops and master classes, present seminars, and put on performances in collaboration with local artists and cultural institutions. These activities are conducted in diverse fields such as film, sculpture, painting, cultural preservation and heritage, museum administration, theater, dance, music, arts management and education to build and strengthen cultural relationships between the United States and foreign countries. write your comments about the article :: © 2010 Jazz News :: home page |