Past CMS Explore Music! Events
Admission: FREE and open to the public. For all ages. Authentic food may be purchased at the event starting at 12:30 p.m.
The Community Music School (CMS) of 色色福利社 and the Puerto Rican Society of St. Louis, Inc. will partner for Explore Music! PUERTO RICO on Sunday, Oct. 14 from 12:30-3 p.m. at the CMS Building on the campus of 色色福利社 in 色色福利社 Groves.
Join us for an exciting afternoon exploring the stirring music and culture of Puerto Rico! Experience The Triangle of Cultures featuring three traditional musical styles and their historical and cultural influences: country (mountain/indigenous), classical (Spanish/Western European) and pop (African/Caribbean). There will be authentic Puerto Rican cuisine for sale from 12:30-1:15 p.m. Fun cultural activities for the kids include making traditional kites and shakers along with interesting displays and stories about life in Puerto Rico. Be ready to Bomba dance to the beat of plena drums and learn about the African and Spanish influences that make up this uniquely Puerto Rican style.
The Puerto Rican Society, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation whose objectives include: supporting education scholarships for Hispanic/Latino students in the St. Louis metropolitan area, promoting the awareness of the Puerto Rican culture and traditions, ensuring self-improvement, providing social activities for its members and their guests, sponsoring and supporting events that will benefit the Puerto Rican community, and strengthening mutual understanding throughout the local community. Membership in the organization is open to all persons who subscribe to and work toward attaining the objectives of the corporation.
The Community Music School is proud to partner with The Puerto Rican Society Inc., of St. Louis.
Timeline of activities
- 12:30-2 p.m. Food, Crafts and Activities
- 2 p.m. Parade wearing borrowed traditional costumes
- 3 p.m. Presentation of traditional music and intergenerational dance by the Philippines Arts Foundation followed by audience participation in dance and tinikling
Activities Include
Music by a traditional rondalla from Chicago
Jewelry and amulet making
Games including Sungka (a popular counting game)
Craft Corner: star lanterns and maps of the Philippines
YoYo activity with Kevin Eulalia
Traditional dress to try on
Music: A traditional rondalla composed of five musicians from Chicago including Judy Tomas (laud), Linda Sauco (bandurria), Jun Reyes (lead guitar), Dr Narge Chato (guitar), and Jun Dela Pena (bass guitar) will provide background music and will be part of the cultural presentation.
Admission: FREE and open to the public. For all ages. Authentic food may be purchased at the event starting at 12:30 p.m.
Join us on Sunday, Feb. 12 from 12:30-3 p.m., as we explore the music and culture of Spain at the East Academic Building on the campus of 色色福利社.
Flamenco has been described both as a way of life and a fusion of cultures, as expressed through music, dance, and song. Its roots are in the multiple cultures of South Spain.
At Explore Music! SPAIN we will learn about the history of Spanish and Flamenco dance, listen to live Flamenco guitar and song, learn a Flamenco dance move or two, taste delicious Spanish cuisine (available for purchase) and take part in cultural activities and crafts.
The St. Louis Cultural Flamenco Society will be our guide on our journey to Spain, with guest artists Marcos Jimenez, Internationally known Flamenco artist, native of Seville, Spain; Liliana De La Caridad Fagoaga, native of Cuba, trained in all three forms of Spanish dance; Esther Pardo from Murcia, Spain, danced as a soloist and principal roles in Spain, Cuba, France and Germany; Edwin Suarez from Colombia, studied and share the stage with great artists from Spain; singer Macarena Jurado De Heras, native of Seville, Spain, started singing Flamenco and the Copla at a very early age, performs around Spain, Portugal, France and the USA; and guitarist Ricardo Diaz originally from San Francisco, studied in Madrid Spain and has performed with world-renown Flamenco artists throughout the country.
Explore Music! passport holders: bring your passports and add another sticker to your collection. Those new to Explore Music! events can pick up a passport and sticker at Explore Music! SPAIN.
Admission: FREE and open to the public. For all ages.
Questions? Call 314-968-5939
Timeline of activities
- 12 p.m. Niji Chorus performance, food from Nobu available for purchase (first come first served), and displays of authentic Japanese kimonos and children's art work.
- 12:45 p.m. Origami activity
- 1 p.m. Gaku (instrumental ensemble) performance
- 2 p.m. Japanese art projects: harie and origami and demonstration of Oshie
Enjoy performances by Niji Japanese Choral Group at noon and Japanese instrumental ensemble, Gaku at 1 p.m. The ensemble includes traditional Japanese instruments such as the Koto, Shamisen, Jabisen, Taishogoto, Tsuzumi, Taiko Drum, and Suzu. The Niji Chorus is a choir of mixed ethnicity that sings both traditional and contemporary Japanese music. Both groups are under the direction of Ms. Yuki Quattrocchi.
Additionally, children and adults of all ages are invited to participate in traditional Japanese art projects. Create a Harie, a picture made of torn rice paper and made into flowers. Try your hand in Origami, folded paper objects and animals. Watch a demonstration of Oshie (a padded picture) making a kimono. View a display of authentic Japanese kimonos and children's art display. Professional artwork available for sale.
Experience authentic Japanese cuisine from Nobu available for purchase beginning at noon.
ith over thirty years of history, the Niji Choral Group is an amateur ensemble performing Japanese songs, drawing members from throughout the greater St. Louis region. Under the able direction of its conductor and arranger, Ms. Yukiko Quattrocchi, and utilizing a variety of Japanese accompanying instruments, its repertoire ranges from the ancient to the contemporary, from regional traditional folk songs to internationally-recognizable anime music, all from Japan, with a few local favorites thrown in for good measure.
Gaku Gaku is an amateur group that performs Japanese instrumental music from a wide variety of time periods and styles. Many of its members play multiple instruments, and all are from metropolitan St. Louis. A regular at the Missouri Botanical Garden's annual Japanese Festival, the group has also performed in many local venues, introducing the eclectic sounds of Japanese music to appreciative audiences large and small.
Admission: FREE and open to the public. For all ages. Participants can attend multiple sessions or just a single activity.
Part of the American Arts Experience St. Louis 2015! A celebration of American Arts in St. Louis.
Timeline of activities
- 12:30 p.m. Food Trucks The Southerner and Pie Oh My! in parking lot K
- 12:30-2 p.m. Storyteller Marcia Ollinger tells stories and children's quilting and weaving projects
- 2 p.m. Music workshop on traditional American folk music featuring Ozark Mountain Music
- 3 p.m. Folk toy activity
- 4 p.m. Music session on the music of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Enjoy the musical roots of American folk music and culture at Explore Music! TRADITIONAL AMERICAN on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015 at the Community Music School of 色色福利社.
Kickoff the afternoon with stories by storyteller Marcia Ollinger and children's quilting and weaving projects, from 12:30-2 p.m. Marcia will share stories Missouri Tales from the Ozarks, the Star Stealer from Texas and many more American themed stories.
Experience traditional American folk music featuring Ozark Mountain music with musicians Cathy Barton, Dave Para, and Mike Fraser at 2 p.m. This engaging music workshop introduces audience members to the tradition of hand-me-down music of the Ozark Mountains. Folk and traditional found instruments will be demonstrated. Participants can sing-a-long and try instruments such as the spoons, bones, jawbone, and drums.
Continue the journey to days gone by with an activity of toy making. All ages are introduced to traditional old time folk toys and make their own toy at 3 p.m.
The final and most compelling music session of the day explores the music of the Lewis and Clark Expedition demonstrating how music played a significant role in the journey. Cathy Barton, Dave, Para and Mike Fraser guide you on the expedition; join the music and fun at 4 p.m.
Food trucks and Pie Oh My will be selling food beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Admission: FREE and open to the public. For all ages.
Participants can attend multiple workshops or just a single activity.
Cathy Barton and Dave Para have for 38 years created dynamic performances acclaimed for their variety and expertise in vocal and instrumental music. They have celebrated the musical traditions and folklife of Missouri and the Ozarks in festivals, clubs, concert halls, schools and studios across the U.S. and Europe. Their audiences are as diverse as their repertoire.
A versatile duo, Dave and Cathy play several stringed instruments including hammered and fretted dulcimers, banjo, guitar and autoharp, as well as "found" instruments like bones, spoons, mouthbow and leaf. Their concerts present a range of music from the lively dance tunes they have collected in their home region to old ballads to new songs. They have conducted several instrumental workshops as well as those about songs from the Civil War, from American rivers, old gospel songs, children's songs and Christmas music. Of their 14 albums, four were named Notable Recordings by the American Library Association, their two albums of music from the Civil War on the western border, music of the Lewis & Clark journey and their traditional Christmas album.
They began working with Young Audiences, Inc., in Kansas City doing school assembly and residency programs. They were awarded the Lighton Award for Teaching Artist Excellence in 2012.
Mike Fraser began playing folk music and learning guitar in college in the Northeast portion of Missouri. focusing on Bluegrass, Old Time and Southern Rock. His first teaching assignment was in the Ozarks of Southern Missouri, and became immersed in the culture and the music of the Scots-Irish, who settled the area in the mid-1800鈥檚. This region provided a rich learning environment due to cultural traditions still in place such as square dancing. He began learning the fiddle and mandolin by ear from local musicians, and served as an apprentice for two years under a Master Square Dance Fiddler, (Bob Holt) through the Missouri Arts Council鈥檚 Master/Apprentice Program. Bob was awarded Smithsonian鈥檚鈥� Heritage Fellowship in 1999 for his teaching efforts in traditional music.
In 1986 after seven years teaching in public schools Mike began working with the Missouri Department of Conservation, as an Education Consultant. His primary responsibility was to develop, and implement a conservation education plan, for all schools within the thirteen county Ozark Region of the state. This was done primarily through school programs and teacher courses for credit, through various universities as adjunct faculty.
He began focusing on using music to teach conservation concepts, and in 2000 created an educational CD titled 鈥淔iddles and Forests鈥� with music and narrative focusing on the Scots-Irish Heritage and the forest resources of the Ozarks. The CD has sold approximately 8,000 copies since its release. In 2003 he moved to Kansas City to work with minorities in an urban environment and joined with Cathy Barton and Dave Para to provide school programs through Young Audiences. His avocation since 1986, has been performing with various musicians and a band he formed (Shortleaf Band) consisting of old time, bluegrass, Celtic, and original music.
Marcia Ollinger is a former elementary school teacher who was inspired to begin storytelling after attending the St. Louis Storytelling Festival in 1984. Marcia's repertoire includes traditional folktales from around the world, American and holiday stories, as well as personal stories of growing up in St. Louis. She is a member of the Gateway Storytellers of St. Louis, MO-TELL, and the National Storytelling Network. She has served as a volunteer, a member of the festival planning committee, and a regional teller for the annual St. Louis Storytelling Festival and the Kansas City Celebration. Marcia believes that everyone, no matter what age, can enjoy a good story.
Join the Community Music School of 色色福利社 (CMS) on a journey to the Middle East on Saturday, March 28, 2015 for Explore Music! MIDDLE EAST. Through ancient stories, song, crafts, and traditional cuisine participants will explore the music and culture of the Middle East.
Musical Traditions from the Middle East, a Springboard program, will begin at 1 p.m. Featuring a wide array of exot