Born and raised in war-torn Beirut, Lebanon, Christiane’s unique vocal style stems from her love for different musical traditions. She is the leader and founder of the award-winning ZilZALA Ensemble, which blends classical, traditional, and folk music from different regions of the Middle East and the Balkans with contemporary jazz. She is also the leader of the acclaimed Pletenitsa Balkan Choir. Christiane is a staunch activist for cultural understanding, tolerance, and non-violent conflict r...
Suzannah Park comes from a family of three generations of traditional singers, storytellers, and dancers. She has been touring and teaching for the past 20+ years, both in the US and abroad. A native of Asheville, NC, she is delighted to call the Appalachian mountains her home, where she sings, teaches, and works for social and environmental justice. Don't miss this new #RevelsConnects: Musical Connections journey as Suzannah discusses folk music traditions and her family background in musica...
A traditional flute player and flute craftsman, Hawk Henries shares songs and traditions of the Chaubunagungamaug band of Nipmuck and other stories of the people indigenous to what is now New England. He has been composing original flute music and making flutes using only hand tools and fire for over twenty-five years. Hawk is committed to music as a traditional art form and as a vehicle for building bridges of communication and mutual respect. He teaches and performs in a wide variety of set...
Neena Gulati was born in New Delhi, India, and began dancing at only four years old. She performed her arangetram, a graduation recital, at the Fine Arts Theater, New Delhi in 1961 to rave reviews, and was called "one of the leading young Bharatanatyam dancers in the capital." A master of the Pandanallur style of Bharatanatyam, Neena Gulati has received high critical acclaim for her performances throughout India and the United States. An energetic and loving teacher, and founder of the Triven...
Beth Bahia Cohen is a violinist of Syrian Jewish and Russian Jewish heritage. Inspired at a young age by the sounds she heard at family gatherings, she went on to study with master musicians from Hungary, Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East. She plays the violin, viola, Greek lyras, Turkish bowed tanbur and kabak kemane, Norwegian hardingfele, and Egyptian rababa. Beth is a founding member of the Greek ensemble Ziyiá, a frequent teacher with the Eastern European Folklife Center, and an Assist...
Tom has been active in a variety of traditional music scenes for more than 30 years. He is a dear friend of Revels and has been a regular Revels performer since 1997, appearing on stage and working behind the scenes as an accordionist, arranger, singer, and bandleader. He's worked closely as a dance musician and musical leader for organizations such as the Pinewoods Band, the Folk Arts Center of New England, and the Boston Branch of the Royal Scottish Dance Society. Tom is an accomplished rec...
Musician, dancer & speaker Karim Nagi preserves traditions while taking adventures into contemporary hybrid expressions. A native Egyptian, Muslim, and US naturalized citizen, Nagi has taught over 400 Arabiqa school assemblies, produced 17 Arab Dance Seminars, recorded 15 CDs, and performed on 5 continents. He has created a hybrid style of music and dance done simultaneously. His works retain the traditional Arab melodies and rhythms while employing English oratory delivery. His simultane...
Josée Vachon has performed throughout New England, eastern Canada, and France for over 35 years, representing Franco-American culture and music. She has 12 solo recordings and 2 with her band, Chanterelle, has an original song on a Smithsonian Folkways CD, and has received several honors and awards from Franco-American organizations, cultural and educational groups. She hosted over 500 episodes of "Bonjour!", a French variety cable TV show from Manchester, NH, and was a guest singer/actress f...
Born in Mali, Balla Kouyaté was raised in the Djeli tradition. His knowledge of his traditional repertoire is unparalleled. Today, the first balafon, over 1000 years old, is considered a UNESCO Artifact of Oral and Intangible History and remains in Balla's family, guarded by his father, El Hadji Sekou Kouyaté. Balla has toured extensively through Europe, Africa, and North America and has been featured on over 45 albums including Silkroad’s "Sing Me Home", Yo-Yo Ma’s "Songs of Joy and Peace", ...
Dating as far back as the early 1600's, spirituals are said to be one of America's original folk songs. Spirituals now have a legitimate place under the umbrella of classical music and are celebrated fron instrumental and vocal ensembles to solo and piano pieces - no matter the ethnic or racial background of the musicians. Join us for our first #RevelsConnects podcast as Revels Director of Education Johnny Nichols, Jr. shares stories that connect these songs to his family and experience...