Candelario Zamudio

April 13, 2020

Candelario Zamudio is a Mexican singer and requinto (five-string guitar) player who is originally from Gudalajara, Jalisco. Zamudio, who now lives in Portland, is a master guitarist with a florid, highly expressive style. Zamudio’s repertoire of over 300 compositions covers a vast range of traditional songs (rancheras, corridos, huapangoes, sones) as well as more contemporary […]

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Frank Ulwenya

April 7, 2020

Frank Ulwenya was born into the Luya ethnic group in the Maragoli area of Western Kenya, an area known for producing many of Kenya’s top musicians. Frank started to play guitar at age 10 and at 18 began to play in a group called the Sky Raiders, based in Nairobi, Kenya. From 1979 to 1985 […]

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Kofi Anang

April 7, 2020

Born in Pakro, in the eastern region of Ghana, Kofi Anang exhibited talent as both a dancer and musician from his youth. After graduating from the University of Ghana’s Institute of African Studies with honors, Kofi spent seven years with the Ghana National Dance Ensemble and performed throughout Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Having traveled […]

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Lora Chiorah-Dye

April 7, 2020

Lora Chiorah-Dye was raised first in a traditional home and then at a mission in Zimbabwe. She first came to the United States in the 1970’s to join her then husband, Dumisani Maraire. Teaching her three children the marimba and mbira music of Zimbabwe, Lora began to create the nucleus of a musical ensemble. In […]

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Wawali Bonane

April 7, 2020

Wawali Bonane was born in Banningville (now Bandundu), in the Democratic Republic of Congo (ex-Zaire). He was weaned on the sounds and rhythms of the Bandundu region. In 1966, Wawali dropped out of school with friend and partner Pepe Kalle, now one of Congo’s top stars, to form their first band, Les Monkoy. In 1974, […]

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William O. Smith (aka Bill Smith)

March 31, 2020

Clarinetist and composer William O. Smith died in 2020 after a long and fruitful career, ranging from playing – as Bill Smith – with Dave Brubeck to performing and composing his own pioneering modern classical work. Bill was a longtime friend of Jack Straw and produced a number of projects here, including his 2001 album […]

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Mara Gearman

December 16, 2019

By the age of nine, Mara Gearman had decided to pursue a career in music. Her training included studies with Roberto Diaz and Karen Tuttle at the Curtis Institute of Music, and Pinchas Zukerman. Gearman has received awards from the Tertis International and Primrose Viola Competitions and has performed solo and chamber music throughout the […]

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John Teske

December 9, 2019

John Teske is a composer, improviser, and double bassist. John composes chamber music for strings and mixed ensembles, often incorporating non-traditional techniques, notation, and elements of improvisation. He received his BM in Music Composition from the University of Washington where he studied with Joël-François Durand, Juan Pampin, and Josh Parmenter. Artist Support Program 2012: Record […]

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Recess Monkey

December 9, 2019

The members of Recess Monkey are three teachers who make kid’s music that grows out of their days in their classrooms. They continue to be praised across the country for singable, danceable songs that parents enjoy as much as their kids. Praised by People, Time, USA Today, The New York Times and NPR for their […]

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Paul Anastasio

December 9, 2019

Classically trained since the age of nine, Paul played bluegrass, hoedowns, western swing and swing at an early age. He met and studied with the great jazz violinist Joe Venuti, performed regularly with him on stage, and was the only student ever invited to study at Venuti’s home in Seattle. Today he is considered one […]

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