Mark Stone multi-percussionist, composer/improviser, educator

Annual winter concert by OU’s World Music Ensembles (Akwaaba - African Ensemble and Pan-Jumbies - Steel Band) featuring world renowned, grammy award winning multi-instrumentalist, singer, dancer, and educator Haruna Walusimbi. Hailing from Uganda, Haruna is the artistic director of Nile Beat Artists and founder of the Senator National Cultural Festival, Uganda’s largest annual cultural event.

Mark Stone and Patrick Fitzgibbon, ensemble directors.

SPONSORED BY THE THE JUDD FAMILY ENDOWED FUND

Haruna Walusimbi is one of Uganda’s most celebrated artists, with extensive performance and teaching experience. This fun-filled educational performance will introduce students to the music of East Africa.
Haruna will be joined by OU Percussion faculty and students from the World Percussion Ensemble.

SPONSORED BY THE THE JUDD FAMILY ENDOWED FUND

In his work as a multi-instrumentalist, singer, dancer, actor, and educator, Haruna Walusimbi embodies the holistic nature of East African Ngoma repertoire. In addition to his many accomplishments in Uganda, Haruna has achieved international renown as an educator, musician, and actor, performing a leading role in the film Throw Down Your Heart, produced by American banjo legend Bela Fleck, and acting alongside Forest Whitaker in the Academy Award winning film The Last King of Scotland. Haruna will be joined by OU Percussion faculty and students from the World Percussion Ensemble.

SPONSORED BY THE THE JUDD FAMILY ENDOWED FUND

sounding light sings a bold, colorful collage in its most eclectic program to date.  Featuring the incomparable Mark Stone Trio (world percussion and violin), this season finale will deliver an irrepressible spirit of hope, promise, and possibility.  Kick off your summer by opening your ears to sounding light’s compelling vision of the world made new!

sounding light sings a bold, colorful collage in its most eclectic program to date.  Featuring the incomparable Mark Stone Trio (world percussion and violin), this season finale will deliver an irrepressible spirit of hope, promise, and possibility.  Kick off your summer by opening your ears to sounding light’s compelling vision of the world made new!

sounding light sings a bold, colorful collage in its most eclectic program to date.  Featuring the incomparable Mark Stone Trio (world percussion and violin), this season finale will deliver an irrepressible spirit of hope, promise, and possibility.  Kick off your summer by opening your ears to sounding light’s compelling vision of the world made new!

The Sunday between the playoffs and the
Superbowl...what better place to be than Manresa?
If you want to "get down" to the rhythms
and colors of the latest jazz trends, be sure
to connect with these members of OU's music faculty.

AADL presents a special concert event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, featuring the acclaimed percussion group Biakuye, featuring Mark Stone, Chinelo Amen-Ra, Lesley-Anne Stone, and Ambyr Amen-Ra.

.....wooden keys suspended over gourds and spider webs….
….seed pods spun like a yo-yo
… goat-skin drums, flattened tire spokes, and discarded oil barrels

These are the sources of Biakuye’s captivating sound—a sound that is both deeply grounded and cutting-edge. The resulting music reflects the unique journeys of its members, which have taken them from the U.S. to Ghana, Uganda, South Africa, Trinidad, and Haiti. In Akan languages of West Africa, biakuye means unity. Biakuye’s energetic performances bring together a wide range of African and Caribbean music and dance.

Vidushi Sudha Raghunathan presents Bhakthi Symphony featuring Prof. Mark Stone (World Percussion), Vidwan Keith Peters (Bass Guitar), Vidwan B. Raghavendra Rao, Vidwan Thiruvarur Vaidyanathan, Vidwan Anirudh Athreya, Vidwan N. Guruprasad

I will be presenting my research on the Embaire - Xylophone Music of Busoga, Uganda as part of the Garth Institute for Music Research and Performance Symposium on "Ethnicity, Femininity, and the History of Music." My thirty minute presentation will take place sometime in the early afternoon.

Final concert of my one-week residency at the Ohio University World Music and Dance Festival. I will be performing two embaire pieces with the Ohio University Percussion Ensemble. 

Lecture Presentation on the Embaire, Xylophone Music of Busoga

The last of this year's successful Celebrating Southwest Concert Series featuring the new group Spirits Rising, led by Joe Reilly and Allison Radell.

The Motor City Symphony Orchestra (formerly the Warren Symphony) kicks off its 42nd season by joining forces with the venerable Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra. These two acclaimed ensembles, performing separately and together on one stage, will offer a wide variety of works, many blending the traditions of classical, jazz and popular music.

Southpaw Isle shares a fun-filled family program as part of this popular Ann Arbor concert series.

The Mark Stone Trio presents afternoon workshops and an evening concert as part of Ohio University's "Experience Percussion" sponsored by the OU Percussion Club.

Joe Reilly and the Community Gardeners (Allison Radell, Marion Hayden, Gayelynn McKinney, Lesley-Anne Stone, and Mark Stone) perform as part of the Wild Summer Nights Concert Series at the Detroit Zoo. The Zoo remains open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays during the concert series.

The Mark Stone Trio brings its golbal soundscapes to this FREE outdoor concert series. The performance will feature Michele Ramo on violin and Dan Piccolo on tabla/frame drum/ percussion set. Bring a picnic dinner, chair or blanket!  Select farm vendors will be on hand as well. All products are Michigan made, the meal deal only $5, includes hot dog made your way, Better Made Potato Chips and a Faygo soda.

Oakland University's jazz faculty, famed jazz violinist Regina Carter and the OU Jazz Quartet will lead two days of activities including combo rehearsals, listening classes, African xylophone sessions and more. Non-traditional jazz instruments are welcome. The workshop will conclude on Sunday with a free concert open to the public.

Annual outdoor concert by Oakland University’s World Music Ensembles (Akwaaba, African ensemble; and Pan-Jumbies, steel band) on the campus of Oakland University in the Varner Courtyard (outside of Varner Recital Hall).

Come out to one of New York's hottest jazz clubs for Imaginary Homeland's CD release party and the Mark Stone Trio's New York debut.

The Mark Stone Trio will be performing at the 7th annual ISIM festival. The theme of this year's festival is cross-cultural Improvisation. 

Oakland University will for our 4th straight year be hosting the Sarovar Festival. This year's festival includes a wide range of Carnatic performances from students to top notch professionals and features the incredible Trichur Brothers.

Join Joe and his amazing band the Community Gardeners for this fun, interactive, and educational concert for kids of all ages. Part of the Detroit Zoo’s 2014 Green Fest. 

Join Joe and his amazing band the Community Gardeners for this fun, interactive, and educational concert for kids of all ages. Part of the Detroit Zoo’s 2014 Green Fest. 

Popular South Indian singers, world record holders and grandsons of the legendary G.N. Iyengar, K.N. Shashikiran and P. Ganesh sing together as theCarnatica Brothers. With more than 4,500 concert performances to their credit across India, the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, the duo has had a steady rise to stardom in the field of Carnatic music. The Carnatica brothers are recipients of many prestigious awards, including the highest honor conferred for artists by the State Government of Tamilnadu: the Kalaimamani award.

A Jazz-Carnatic Collaboration: 
Sangeetha Rathnakara Dr M. Balamuralikrishna (Vocal)
Sangeetha Rathnakara Trichy Sri Sankaran (mridangam)
Smt. Anuradha Sridhar of CA (violin)
Sri P. Ganesh (chitravina)

The OU Jazz Band and Steel Drum Combo (Pan Jazz) combine forces to perform innovative new compositions for Big Band with Steel Drums by Etienne Charles & Mark Stone. Mark Stone and Miles Brown, ensemble directors.

Annual winter concert by OU’s World Music Ensembles (Akwaaba, African ensemble, and Pan-Jumbies, steel band) featuring Trinidadian trumpeter, percussionist and composer Etienne Charles. Charles has received critical acclaim for his exciting performances, thrilling compositions and knack for connecting with audiences worldwide. Perhaps more than any other musician of his generation of Eastern Caribbean origin, Charles brings to his music a careful study of myriad rhythms from the French-, Spanish-, English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. Mark Stone and Patrick Fitzgibbon – ensemble directors.

The Mark Stone Trio brings its global soundscapes to this intimate Ann Arbor venue. The concert with feature Mark on gyil xylophone & kalimbas, Alan Grubner on violin, and Dan Piccolo on tabla & frame drum. The performance will include world premieres of several new compositions.

Come check out UMMA's "After Hours", a free community event featuring Art, music, and atmosphere. Explore the permanent collection galleries and enjoy special exhibitions, curators' conversations, tours, light refreshments, and live music by the Mark Stone Trio.

Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Ann Arbor Library with the Biakuye Percussion Group. Sulley Imoro, Mark Stone, and Chinelo Amen Ra will share a wide range of drumming, singing, and dancing from West Africa in this all ages performance.

Regina Carter will be the featured guest artist with the Oakland Jazz Quartet and OU Chamber Orchestra for a night of jazz with an orchestral hue. The Oakland Jazz Quartet is Miles Brown, Sean Dobbins, Scott Gwinnell and Mark Stone. Alan MacNair, conducts the OU Chamber Orchestra. This concert is free for registered participants of OU’s Strings Day.

A feast of percussion from around the world, featuring workshops and individual lessons with Sean Dobbins, Patrick Fitzgibbon, Dan Maslanka, Michael Medvinsky, and Mark Stone. Open to all ages. Workshops cover a wide range of percussion areas (see descrioptions below). Please bring a sack lunch as well as music and mallets/sticks for your individual lesson. Sign up for these 15-minute lessons will take place on site the morning of Percussion Day.

• 9am to 10:15am –  Varner Recital HalL
• Drumming in the Classroom with Mike Medvinsky 

• 10:30am to 11:45am – Room 110 Varner
• Steel Drums with Patrick Fitzgibbon (learn to play pan)

• 12 noon to 1:15pm – Room 134 Varner
• Jazz Drum Set 101 with Sean Dobbins (develop your jazz knowledge)

• 10:30am to 1:15pm – Room 101 Varner
• individual lessons with Dan Maslanka(fine tune your solo and ensemble pieces)

• 10:30am to 1:15pm – Room 106 Varner
• Individual lessons with Mark Stone (Work on hand drumming or other world percussion)

1:15pm - Lunch Break (bring a sack lunch)

• 2:15pm to 3:30pm – Room 110 Varner
• Concert Percussion Fundamentals with Dan Maslanka 

• 3:45pm to 5pm – Room 134 Varner
• African Xylophones with Mark Stone (learn to play the embaire)

• 2:15pm to 5pm – Room 104 Varner
• Individual lessons with Sean Dobbins (Work on various drum set styles)

• 2:15pm to 5pm – Room 106 Varner
• Individual lessons with Patrick Fitzgibbon (fine tune your solo and ensemble pieces)

• 5pm to 6pm – Room 134 Varner
• Wrap up/ Reflection (Discuss the days events. Share you thoughts and ask any questions you may have)

Sponsored by Carnatica

Research Presentation

Embaire - Xylophone Music of Busoga, Uganda

Annual fall concert by OU's World Music Ensembles (Akwaaba, African drum ensemble; Ngoma, African xylophone ensemble; and Pan-Jumbies, steel band) featuring legendary percussionist Bill Summers. 

Multiple Grammy, Billboard and Emmy award-winning musician Bill Summers is a pioneer in the field of world percussion. Joining Summers in concert will be Oakland University's Faculty Jazz Quartet.

CD Release Concert!

Sponsored by the Lyman Woodard Organization for the Arts

Mark Stone - Double Second Pans

Lesley-Anne Stone - Lead Pan

Miles Brown - Electric Bass

Leonard King -Drums

Miguel Gutierrez - Percussion

Concert debut of the Mark Stone Trio featuring Alan Grubner and Dan Piccolo.

Featured guest artist on Steel Pans, performing music by Etienne Charles

Dr. Prof. Leonard King--drums & vocals, Jerry LeDuff--percussion; Mark Stone--Electric Marimba & percussion; Ozzie Rivera--bongo & conga drums; Miguel Gutierrez--percussion family; Javier Barrios--timbales & percussion
Admission: Adults--$10.00 Children: $2:00 Family Pack: $25.00 (for a family of 5 or more) 
For more information contact: Leonard King DrProf2148@hotmail 

The Bernard Woma Ensemble performs the Gyil Yeru Concerto and Gyil Jumbie Concerto with the Berliner Symphoniker under the direction of Lior Shambadal. 

Steel pan master Andy Narell joins Relator, one of the leading calypsonians (calypso singers) in the world, featuring music from the CD University of Calypso with MSU Jazz Orchestra I, Oakland University Steelband & Mott Steelheads Steel Orchestra. 

Southpaw Isle brings performs its exciting blend of Caribbean steel pan music and jazz.

Annual winter concert by OU’s World Music Ensembles (Pan-Jumbies, Steel Band, and Akwaaba, African Drum and Xylophone Ensemble) featuring world-renowned steel pan artist Liam Teague. Hailed as the “Paganini of the Steel Pan,” Liam Teague currently serves as the Head of Steelpan Studies at Northern Illinois University and has received many awards in his homeland of Trinidad and Tobago. 

Let the rhythm move you as percussion takes center stage with the energy and excitement of world-renowned soloist Colin Currie and the West African musical traditions of the Bernard Woma Ensemble. Experience the unique sounds of the gyil—an African xylophone—and other African percussion combined with Western orchestral instruments in the revolutionary Gyil Jumbie Concerto. Turn the beat around with The Philadelphia Orchestra!

• Mark Stone - Gyil xylophone and Kalimba
• Sulley Imoro - dance, vocals and Lunna talking drum
• Sawande Keita - Djembe and Kpanlogo drum

Enjoy lunch with the performers following the concert in SC4 Fine Arts Galleries for $10 

 Seating is limited. Reservations required: Call (810) 989-5709 by Monday before concert.

• Quincy Stewart - Trumpet                                  
• Carl Cafagna - Saxophones
• Mark Stone - Vibes and Steel Pans
• Phil Kelly - Piano
• Miles Brown - Bass
• Sean Dobbins - Drums

Is Darth Vader a jazz fan? We may never know unless he attends this jazz concert for the entire family! Renowned violinist Regina Carter and the OU jazz faculty will perform music from your favorite movies, including Cars, Finding Nemo, Apollo 13, Goodfellas and more. Audience members young and old are invited to come dressed in costume as a movie character!

Percussion Day is targeted to all students, junior high through adult, who are interested in the Oakland University  experience.  The entire OU percussion faculty will be present which includes:  Mark Stone, Dan Maslanka, Mike Medvinsky, Sam Jeyasingam, Sean Dobbins with guests Miguel Gutierrez and Sandy Mabery.  The students will enjoy solo and ensemble coaching sessions; learn how to start a school drum group; learn to play the Kanjira; Jazz drum-off; Latin percussion; Steel drums and participate in a drum circle.

The day will be filled with exciting experiences from percussion around the world!
Note: Parents and Teachers are welcome to attend!

·      10am to 1pm – Room 110 Varner Hall

Solo and ensemble coaching with Dan Maslanka

(fine tune your MSBOA percussion pieces)

·      10am to 11:30am – Room 134 Varner Hall

Drumming in the Classroom with Mike Medvinsky

(how to start a school drum group - featuring students from the

Indaba Drumming Ensemble)

·      11:30am – 1pm – Room 134 Varner Hall

South Indian rhythm with Sam Jeyasingam (learn to play the Kanjira)

·      2pm to 4pm – Room 134 Varner

Jazz drum-off with Sean Dobbins

(play a solo, or bring your jazz combo)

·      2pm to 3:30pm – Room 110 Varner

Latin Percussion with Miguel Gutierrez

(learn Latin rhythms on drum-set and other percussion)

·      3:30pm to 5pm – Room 110 Varner

Steel Drums with Mark Stone (learn to play pan)

·      4pm to 5pm – Room 134 Varner

Jazz Drum Set 101 with Sean Dobbins (develop your jazz knowledge)

·      5pm to 6pm – Room 134 Varner Hall

Drum Circle with Sandy Mabery (equality through rhythm).

For more information, contact Deneen Stapleton at stapleto@oakland.edu.

Mark Stone, Lesley-Anne Stone, Issa Sall and Miguel Gutierrez present original compositions and arrangements for steel drums. While rooted in Caribbean pan tradition, Southpaw Isle continually stretches the steelband sound. The group's repertoire is shaped by a wide range of musical traditions, including American jazz, Brazilian samba, and Trinidadian calypso. The group has presented numerous workshops, assemblies, and concerts, including the world premiere of "A Caribbean Christmas Mass" for orchestra, chorus, and steelband.

Third Floor (btw/ 2nd & 3rd Ave.)

7:00 Grupo Los Santos

7:40 Imaginary Homeland

8:20 Kakande

9:00 Grupo Los Santos

9:40 Imaginary Homeland

10:20 Kakande