The Circle is not your ordinary children's music album. It uses fun and creative songs to teach children about diversity and social and environmental justice, while inspiring families to engage in conversations about America's core democratic values. Join Joe and friends for this special concert celebrating the album's release. 

Joe Reilly with Mark Stone - percussion, Lesley-Anne Stone - vocals, Allison Radell - keyboard and vocals, Marion Hayden - upright bass, and Gayelynn McKinney - drums

Akwaaba African Ensemble, Ngoma World Percussion Ensemble, Pan-Jumbies Steel Band, and Afram Jazz Band present the music of Dr. Paschal Yao Younge. Hailing from Ghana, West Africa, Prof. Younge is a multi-talented and interdisciplinary musician, scholar, and composer. While rooted in the rich Anlo-Ewe music tradition, Paschal’s compositions reflect his in depth multi-cultural performance research.

Mark Stone, Patrick Fitzgibbon, and Miles Brown ensemble directors.

Join master teacher and musician Dr. Paschal Younge and Oakland University’s Akwaaba African Ensemble for a free workshop and concert featuring traditional dance drumming of Ghana. Dr. Younge is Professor of Music Education at Ohio University.

Mark Stone ensemble director

Bernard Woma, Kay Stonefelt, Michael Vercelli, and Mark Stone present a World Percussion Lab on Dagara Xylophone Music entitled Learning Dagara Gyil

The festival was initiated in December 2001 by the local chiefs and the Fielmuo Area Development Association (FADA) as a harvest festival to support economic development in the region.

In 2003, Regina Carter released the album Paganini: After A Dream, inspired by her opportunity to play the celebrated virtuoso’s violin. Regina will bring this spirit to Varner Hall as she and the Oakland Jazz Quartet reinterpret themes and compositions from the classical canon, ranging from Mozart to modern.

CEFORMA and ESTUDIO DE PERCUSION will be hosting their 11th International Percussion and  Educational Festival in Quito, Ecuador from July 25th to July 28th, 2016

This year's festival will feature workshops every day from 10-5pm with evening concerts featuring a wide ranging of national and international percussion artists. Workshops will take place at the national symphony orchestra building.The festival will conclude with a big concert on July 28th.

The unique, rhythm-driven music of Southpaw Isle stretches into and beyond jazz, classical, samba, and calypso.  The group is notorious for high quality performances that are sure to keep you moving and begging for more! Performance credits include the world premier of  “A Caribbean Christmas Mass”, sold-out performances in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Educational Concert Series, and an appearance in the finals of the World Steelband Festival in Trinidad.  The group's has released the CD’s, "Carol of the Pans" and “Piazzolla plus 5” on the Jumbie Records Label.

Oakland University Percussion Ensembles perform the music of Roger Braun. As a composer and percussionist, Roger Braun’s diverse career spans the idioms of contemporary, classical, jazz and world music. He has performed extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Asia and is actively involved in commissioning, composing and creating new works. Roger Braun is Professor of Percussion at Ohio University. Dan Maslanka and Mark Stone, ensemble directors.

Annual winter concert by OU’s World Music Ensembles (Akwaaba – African Ensemble and Pan-Jumbies - Steel Band) featuring music from Ghana and Trinidad.
Mark Stone and Patrick Fitzgibbon, ensemble directors

Regina Carter is considered the foremost jazz violinist of her generation. Last season, she and the Oakland Jazz Quartet dazzled a sold-out crowd when they presented the music of Jimi Hendrix. They return to the Carr Center for what will surely be an unforgettable night of music, passion and creativity

Hear your favorite movie music performed live at Varner Hall! Regina Carter and the Oakland Jazz Quartet will perform music from Frozen, Star Wars,The Little Mermaid, Monsters, Inc., and more! Audience members of all ages are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite movie character costume.

Join the OU Jazz Singers for their spring concert. Scott Gwinnell, director. The Oakland Jazz Quartet, with faculty members Miles Brown, Sean Dobbins, Scott Gwinnell and Mark Stone, will also perform.

The Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival is the largest Indian classical music festival outside of India. It was first celebrated in 1978 and has now grown to be a 12-day festival with more than 8,000 attendees with 2,000 appearing for the opening weekend. The year 2016 is the Festival's 39^th year.

A Jazz-Carnatic Collaboration, featuring
Padma Shri awardee Aruna Sairam (Vocal)
Prof. Mark Stone (Gyil, Mbira, and World Percussion)
Maya Azucena (vocal)

Supported by
K.N. Shashikiran (vocal)
P. Ganesh (chitraveena)
Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan (mridangam)
B.V. Raghavendra Rao (violin)
N. Guruprasad (ghatam)
G. Ravi Shankar (keyboard)
N. Sundar (tabla)

and
Chinelo Amen-Ra (djembe, congas, and percussion)
Matt Dufresne (Saxophone)
Miles Brown (Bass)

Also featuring
Mayuri Vasan (vocal)
Apoorva Das of TX (vocal)
Varun Ganesan of NY (vocal)
Vivrd Prasanna of CA (vocal)
Sudarshan Mohan of CA (vocal

Patterson Rhythm Pace Dance Company struts the stage to the swingin' sounds of the Oakland Jazz Quartet directed by Miles Brown. The evening focuses on music of the 30s and 40s highlighting popular standards from famous composers such as George and Ira Gershwin, Billy Rose, Arnett Cobb, and Nat King Cole. Guests also include Oakland University's Repertory Dance Company and OU alum jazz vocalist Trish Shandor. Artistic Director, Gregory Patterson.

A concert featuring the Steelband “Southpaw Isle” geared toward children & families.

Carnatic music is South India’s classical music, an art form practiced for over 3000 years. The Carnatic tradition is founded in the Indian systems of raga (melodic modes) and tala (rhythmic cycles). The music blends complex devotional compositions with intricate improvisations and virtuosic interplay between the voice or a lead instrumentalist with the accompanying mridangam (drum) and violin. ‘An Afternoon of Carnatic Music’ offers a unique learning opportunity and enjoyable experience featuring a workshop and a pre-concert discussion followed by a grand classical concert featuring Kiranavali Vidyasankar (voice), Keerthana Sankar (violin), and Vinod Seetharaman (mridangam).

Ohio University recently received their own large embaire xylophone from Uganda. Mark will be teaching embaire music to the Ohio University percussion studio during his two day residency.

Percussionist extraordinaire, Douglas Cardwell, presents a special master class at Oakland University. Douglas is principal timpanist with the New Mexico Philharmonic and is in Michigan playing at Orchestra Hall with Sphinx Orchestra.

In an effort to support the Chennai music community affected by last months devastating floods in southern India, Professor Mark Stone of Oakland University (OU) in Rochester, Michigan, is organizing a benefit concert with the Great Lakes Aradhana Committee, Michigan’s premier presenter of Carnatic music. The concert will take place at Oakland University’s Varner Recital Hall on Saturday, January 30^th at 7pm. The program will feature Michigan Jugalbandi, a group led by Mark Stone (mbira/ gyil) that includes fellow OU professors Sam Jeyasingham (kanjira/ morsing) and Patrick Fitzgibbon (tabla/ drum set) as well as OU graduate student Matt Dufresne (saxophones) and mridangam artist Vinod Seetharaman. Michigan Jugalbandi’s performance will be followed by a traditional Carnatic performance featuring Michigan’s preeminent Carnatic musicians: Madurai Sundar (voice), Jay Balan (violin), and Vinod Seetharaman (mridangam). There is no admission fee for the event. However, all attendees are encouraged to give generously in support of recovery efforts underway in Chennai. All proceeds will be donated to the Carnatica Archival Center, a Chenai-based non-profit trust directed by KN Shashikiran. Carnatica will distribute 100% of the funds directly to victims of the recent flooding, working to rebuild their lives and artistic careers.

This event is intended for grade K - adult

The acclaimed percussion group Biakuye returns to AADL (multi-purpose room) for this concert event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

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. Biakuye’s captivating sound is both deeply grounded and cutting-edge.

Their music reflects the unique journeys of its members, which have taken them from the U.S. to Ghana, Uganda, South Africa, Trinidad, and Haiti.

Jazz Band / Combo Concert - featuring the Oakland University Jazz Quartet 

Water shutoffs in Detroit are continuing every day. Joe Reilly is helping to organize a benefit concert for We the People of Detroit, a grassroots organization working to restore water service to Detroit residents. Please mark your calendars for the musical celebration and support water as a human right!

Clinic/Performance: "New Music for Mbira, Tabla, and Violin

- Mark Stone Trio featuring Dan Piccolo and Alan Grubner"

Professor Emeritus Marvin Holladay established Oakland University’s World Music Program in 1975. The inaugural fall concert featured a performance on the University’s new Ghanaian drums with master Ghanaian drummer Abraham Adzenyah, who also blessed the drums with a libation ceremony. The program at OU has continued to grow and flourish with the ensembles now directed by Mark Stone and Patrick Fitzgibbon. To celebrate their 40th anniversary, this fall’s concerts will feature Bernard Woma, another master musician from Ghana.

South Africa's International Marimba and Steelpan Festival is the largest festival of its kind. The highly successful 3rd Education Africa International Marimba and Steelpan Festival in August 2014 included over 1600 participants from all over South Africa as well as Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Nigeria, France and the USA took part. This year's 4th annual festival will include participants from many African countries, Europe, USA, and Australia. 

Through tremendous effort made in the past decade by various marimba and steelpan manufacturers, individuals, educational institutions and NGOs marimba-playing and steelpan-playing has become a sought-after activity by youth of all socio-economic backgrounds in South Africa. The International Marimba and Steelpan Festival celebrates these instruments and the great diversity of musicians who perform on marimba and pan.

Spirits Rising is a dynamic new group led by Native American singer/songwriters Allison Radell (Powhatan) and Joe Reilly (Cherokee). Incorporating elements of jazz, folk, blues, hip-hop, rock, and traditional Native American music, Spirits Rising shares music from the heart that inspires and uplifts.

The performance will take place at Orchestra Hall in the Music Box.

Southpaw Isle brings its unique, rhythm-driven music to the Carr Center's Evening in Paradise Concert Series. The group is notorious for high quality performances that are sure to keep you moving and begging for more! Performance to take place in the Beatrice Buck/ Paradise Valley park across the street from the Carr Center (or inside the Carr Center in the case of rain).

Featuring Regina Carter and the OU Jazz Quartet: Miles Brown, bass l  Sean Dobbins, drums  l  Scott Gwinnell, piano l  Mark Stone, percussion. Ages 14 and up, non-traditional jazz instruments welcome! Enjoy a weekend of workshops, clinics, combo rehearsals and performances.

The Mark Stone Trio brings together celebrated world percussion traditions of Africa and India with the lyricism of the violin to create a vibrant global soundscape. The concert will feature brand new compositions inspired by Mark's recent travels and studies in Africa and India. Mark is joined in the group by violinist Alan Grubner and percussionist Dan Piccolo, both of whom freely cross musical boundaries with their dynamic playing.

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!

Vinod Seetharaman - Mridangam, Cajon, & Konnakol

Mark Stone - Kanjira, Rhythm Bones, Kalangu Talking Drum, & Konnakol

Sam Jeyasingham - Morsing, Mridangam, Congas, & Konnakol

Patrick Fitzgibbon - Tabla, Drum Set, & Konnakol

Experience a groovin' new Michigan percussion ensemble performing tala-based compositions on Indian, American, and African instruments.

Laya Rathnakara Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan - Mridangam and Konnakol
'Hariyudan Naan' Ravi Shankar - Keyboard And Voice
Ragavendra Rao - Violin
GuruPrasad - Ghatam
Surenthar - Morsing
Mark Stone - Kalimbas, Array Mbira, Percussion

Performance with a group of world-class Carnatic musicians who I collaborated with during my recent sabbatical trip to India. 

Celebrate Africa and cultures around the world with the Winter Season opening concert of the 2015 World Symphony Series. The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic welcomes the Bernard Woma ensemble from Ghana to Durban for an unforgettable performance of traditional African music mixed with ethnic-themed classical music from Europe and America.

The orchestra is joined by the Bernard Woma Ensemble, which consists of two Ghanaians, Bernard Woma and Kofi Ameyaw, and one American, Mark Stone. The group performs on the traditional Ghanaian instrument the gyil — a pentatonic-tuned xylophone with resonator gourds underneath the keys. These instruments are rarely heard outside of Western Africa and it is a treat to have this world-class ensemble perform with the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic. The ensemble will perform two short concertos written by Bernard Woma: the Gyil Jumbie Concerto and the Gyil Yeru Concerto.

World-renowned, Grammy Award winning artist Haruna Walusimbi is one of Uganda’s most celebrated artists. In his work as a multi-instrumentalist, singer, dancer, actor, and educator, he embodies the holistic nature of Uganda’s Ngoma repertoire. As in other African countries, the music, dance, and theatre of Uganda are not viewed separately, but rather as a single art form. This holistic approach to the performing arts is embodied in Bantu languages by the term Ngoma. For this musical performance, Haruna will share his deep knowledge of East African culture, leaving the audience with a heightened understanding and appreciation of the art form known as Ngoma. Joining him will be his close friend and former classmate at Makerere University, Mark Stone, Associate Professor of World Music, Percussion, and International Studies at Oakland University.

Come eat, play, and show the Earth some love with the city of Farmington Hills at the free Earth Day Celebration 5-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 22 at Heritage Park, 24915 Farmington Road, between 10 and 11 Mile Roads. The Earth Day event will feature a free concert by Joe Reilly and the Community Gardeners starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Heritage Park Amphitheater, along with a mix of displays and activities for kids and families. For more information about Earth Day 2015, contact the Farmington Hills Nature Center at 248-477-1135.

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

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

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