classical lounge curated by musicanova

ScottsdaleArts.org | 480-499-TKTS 1

CLASSICAL LOUNGE CURATED BY MUSICANOVA

BURKINA DREAMS IN THE DESERT

FEATURING AZ63

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Fountain Stage, Scottsdale Civic Center Park

2 ScottsdaleArts.org | 480-499-TKTS

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Presents

Classical Lounge Curated by MusicaNova

BURKINA DREAMS IN THE DESERTFEATURING AZ63

AROUNA DIARRA — KORA, NGONI, BALAFON ZAZA DIARRA — VOCALS, MARAKAS, DUNDUN

SONJA D. BRANCH — PERCUSSION

Saturday, March 27, 2021 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Fountain Stage, Scottsdale Civic Center Park


PROGRAM

Program to be selected from the following:

Kora: Improvised solo

Donso Ngoni: Siralonbalia

Balafon: Djarabi

Kora: Bara

Ngoni: Sinikeneya

Ngoni: Djina Mouso/Zaouli

Ngoni: Bamanaya

Djembe: Djansa

Ngoni: Kelemagni

Djembe: Zaminamina

Kamelen Ngoni: Siawoloma

Kora: Manisajo


ABOUTAROUNA DIARRA (THE ANCIENT ROOTS)

— KORA, NGONI, BALAFON

Arouna Diarra, originally from Burkina Faso, West Africa, founded Arouna Diarra Music LLC. Arouna is an accomplished ngoni and balafon player who also plays a great array of other traditional instruments. Performing a tradition of folk songs reflecting topics from war to building love for one another, Arouna sings with spirit, nostalgia, and great joy in his native language, Bambara. Arouna brings a dynamic repertoire to the table, full of timing changes and improvisational prowess. He plays the kamale ngoni, a 14-string harp-like instrument (which he makes himself), with a melodic and percussive sensibility.

Arouna was born into a family composed of musicians, poets, and storytellers. He is a 12th-generation musician, and he was destined to bring traditional West African music into the modern day, further developing it while remaining true to its roots. His live performances often welcome a diverse group of musicians performing as The Ancient Roots Band. Musicians frequently joining Arouna onstage include percussionist Biko Casini and bassist/guitarist David Brown of Rising Appalachia. Whether performing on stage at Red Rocks, the jungle of Costa Rica, or intimate community settings, Arouna and his band bring joy, harmony, and a connection to traditional folk music.

ZAZA DIARRA — VOCALS, MARAKAS, DUNDUN

Born in Burkina Faso, Zaza Diarra has a great passion for music and children. She is deeply involved in the local music scene, and she founded Immanuel Care for Children, a Phoenix childcare center with a capacity of 74, where she is the current director. She has also changed the landscape of home childcare by mentoring new providers, improving the rules that enhance the lives of children, and directing a local crisis pregnancy center. In addition to her work as a center director, she also manages Arouna Diarra LLC alongside her husband Arouna Diarra.

SONJA D. BRANCH — PERCUSSION

Dr. Sonja D. Branch, D.Mus.A., holds degrees in music performance from Ithaca College and Arizona State University. She has performed as a timpanist/percussionist with MusicaNova since the orchestra’s inaugural concert in 2003. An active freelance musician, Sonja appears regularly with several other ensembles, including Kawambe Omowale African Drum & Dance Theater, Crossing 32nd St. Contemporary Music Ensemble, the Sonoran Marimba Band, and the funk band Dr. Delicious. She is an accompanist for ASU dance classes.

In 2014, she established Ensemble Ndeye Soxna, a performing group dedicated to promoting Senegalese Sabar drumming in Phoenix. Sonja directs West African percussion ensembles at Glendale and Scottsdale Community Colleges, teaches steel drums at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, and repairs and re-heads drums in her home workshop. Along with her percussion activities, Sonja plays guitarrón and armonia with Mariachi Luz del Sur and the all-female Mariachi Rubor. To exercise her interests outside of music, Sonja works occasionally as a mechanical fabricator at Tempe-based Southwest Solar Technology.

MUSICANOVA

The MusicaNova Orchestra is a professional ensemble that features new music, unjustly neglected pieces, and fresh interpretations of the classics. The musicians engage, enthuse, and educate through musical partnerships with diverse communities, artists, and students.

MusicaNova believes in the future of great music and regularly features exceptionally talented young performers and brilliant young composers. Through educational outreach, MusicaNova is dedicated to bringing the joy of playing and hearing great music to many who might not otherwise have the opportunity.


DONORSScottsdale Arts is sincerely grateful for donors, members, and partners who celebrate and support art in our community at every level. We gratefully acknowledge the following individual supporters above $500 who made contributions between July 1, 2020, and February 4, 2021. For more information on ONE Membership, Legacy Society planned giving, and other ways to support the art you love in Scottsdale, please contact Erin Krivanek, director of development, at 480-874-4620 or [email protected].

We make every effort to list accurate information; if we have made any omissions or error by mistake, we apologize and ask you to please contact us at [email protected].

$100,000 +Billie Jo and Judd Herberger *

$10,000 - $24,999Felice Appell *Mary and Dale Fedewa *Joan and David GoldfarbAlison Lewis and Craig Krumwiede *Paulette and Michael Miller *Kathy and Michael Wills *

$5,000 - $9,999Charlotte and Gary Gilbert Betty Hum and Alan Yudell Peggy and Jamie Kapner *Marie and Richard Stewart Tamar Weiss, In Memory of Emil Weiss

$2,500 - $4,999Rhonda and Gary Anderson *Paul Basha *Nancy and Chuck Brickman Susie and Don Cogman *Jennie and Jerry Cox *Kimberly and John Davids *Rebecca and Sam Eden *Dorothy Rowe and Kenneth O'Connor *Doris and Eliot Minsker *Barbara Robbins *Linda and Paul Schmidt *Stanley Spiegel Trust *Patrick D Strieck and Brian J Fanning *

$1,000 - $2,499Makenna and Mike Albrecht *Ellen Andres-Schneider and Ralph Andres *Nancy and Joe Braucher *Paige Cecil and Ryan Jones *Donald W. Collier Charitable Trust II *Allison and Grant Colwell *Nancy and Derek Davis Tracy Denmark and Marc Schwimmer *Dr. Robert Dixon *Kathleen and Robert Duyck *Judith and John Ellerman *Angela and Jeffrey Glosser *Robin and Roy Grossman Jackie Gutsch *Jane and Dennis Henner Lynda and Arthur Horlick *Susan and John Horseman *Chris and Bob Irish *David J. Itzkowitz *Richard Kiene Judy and Sam Linhart *Harvey Lisherness Marcia and James Lowman *Lynn and Matthew Luger *Joan and Walter Magen *Roberta and Stan Marks *Linda Milhaven *Jeffrey Miller *Elan Mizrahi *Thomas J. Morgan *Mary and David Patino *Kimberly and Erik Peterson *Hermine and Leo Philippe *Rich and Penny Post *Laura Ahl and Jeff Rakoczy *Betsy R. Retchin *Carrie Lynn Richardson and Paul Giancola *Lois and John Rogers *Missy Romanoff *Merle and Steve Rosskam *Susan and Richard Silverman *Dorothy Lincoln-Smith *Diana M. and David N. Smith *Art C. Soares *Paula and Jack Strickstein *Gail and Fred Tieken *

$500 - $999Peter Boyle *Naomi Caras-Miller and Alvin Miller *Jill Christenholz Erika Coombs Anita Fishman Colleen and Brennan Giggey *Dr. Michael W. Goerss Audrey and Fred Horne Michael R. King Sally and Richard Lehmann Elizabeth and James Lincoln Sandra Listello Dr. Kay Martens and Philip Cram Amy Perciballi *Eric Pittman Jean Quinsey Tracy and Christian Serena Kristine and Steve Short Cynthia and Anthony Siegle Ronda and Carl Silver Rowena Simberg Delores Rodman and Dale Suran Jill Townsend Denise and William Villalon Brad Williams

Legacy SocietyAnonymous Patricia Aloe-StauberFred J. English and Sara M. English Charitable TrustChet and Ann GoldbergChris and Bob IrishLouis JekelEric Jungermann and FamilySue and Robert KaratzCynthia Muss LawrenceSara and David LiebermanArleen Lorrance and Diane Kennedy PikeJ. Patrick McCarthyJoan Mills Miller EstateDiane RejmanLinda and Sherman Saperstein

Special Tributes Made in Memory ofWallace DavidsonTed Stephan

Gifts In Honor Of (since July 1, 2020)Robert Knight• Sally Lakin

Gifts In Memory Of (since July 1, 2020)Wallace Davidson• Susan and Richard Bloomberg• Roy Grossman• Elizabeth Silverman• Judy and Alan Wertheimer• Debbie and Richard YokenSandy Greenhut• Aviva Baer• Diana and David SmithClaire Keefnor• Madaline KrskaTed Stephan• Who’s Who Singles - AZ Inc.


Corporate, Foundation & Government Partners

Scottsdale Arts is pleased to recognize the following corporations, foundations, government agencies, and in-kind donors for their support of the arts in our community this season. For more information on participating as a sponsor, please contact Denise Wisdom, corporate and foundation relations manager, at 480-874-4669 or [email protected].

Presenting Partners ($10,000 - $24,999)

Title Partners ($25,000 - $49,999)

World Class Partners ($50,000 +)

Supporting Partners ($2,500 - $4,999)

Signature Partners ($5,000 - $9,999)

Broadstone WaterfrontCanopy by Hilton Scottsdale Old TownCity of Scottsdale Solid Waste ServicesCosanti FoundationDollar Radio RentalsExperience ScottsdaleHavaianasHonor HealthHoverlayJewel of the CrownJuice Core OrganicJules & JCKelly’s at Southbridge

La Señora at SaguaroMuseum of the WestNori Sushi & Asian DiningOh My Dog! Boutique Hotel & SpaPhoenix CollegeScottsdale Artists' SchoolScottsdazzleShinbaySizzle Korean BBQSouthbridge ManagementSuper Chunk Sweets & TreatsWaterfront PropertiesW Scottsdale

Small Business Collaborator Partners ($2,499 and below)

THE KEMPER AND ETHEL MARLEY FOUNDATION

DIANE AND BRUCE HALLE FAMILY FOUNDATION

INSTITUT FRANCAÍS- RELANCE EXPORT

S. REX AND JOAN LEWIS FOUNDATION

in partnership with HomeSlice

WALTER AND KARLA GOLDSCHMIDT FOUNDATION

THE VIRGINIA M. ULLMAN FOUNDATION

Simoncic’s Opportunities In Arts and Robotics

WILLIAM L. AND RUTH T. PENDLETON MEMORIAL FUND

CHARLES G. AND RHETA KRAMER

FOUNDATION

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