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Percussion

Home | Events | African Ensemble | Drumline | Facilities

 

African Ensemble

The African Ensemble is a group dedicated to the study and performance of the music and drumming of Africa using authentic instruments. The course objectives are:

1. to provide for a learning environment in which to broaden the student's general, technical, historical and practical knowledge of music of other traditions and societies;
2. to enrich the cultural aspects and appreciation of the students involved, as well as the university and community, and;
3. to further develop professional educators and performers who have a diversified background, so that they will be better prepared for whatever opportunities arise in the field of professional music, music education or music therapy.

Past semesters have included the study of the music, drumming and traditions of the Akan and Ewe people of southeastern Ghana, dalari drumming from the Dagara people of northern Ghana and the study of the embaire, a large xylophone from Uganda.

The EMU African Ensemble was first established in 2001 and is currently offered in Winter semesters only as a Special Topics course. It is open to all EMU students, though an audition may be required, but only if enrollment exceeds capacity (12)

 

Kofi Ameyaw

Kofi Ameyaw, Associate Director of the EMU African Ensemble, is a natural born performer. As a drummer, he is noted for his sensitivity and passion for bringing joy to people through music. A native of Ghana, he began his musical career at the age of nine-years old and was introduced to many styles of African music. Ameyaw started playing with the world-renowned Pan-African Youth Orchestra and toured throughout Ghana, Zimbabwe & South Africa. His talent was quickly recognized and he was promoted to the senior orchestra, performing at major venues in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. & other countries throughout Europe. As an educator, Ameyaw teaches different styles of African music, privately and at various schools and universities in the U.S. He is also the founder and the musical director of an outstanding group called ‘’Sunkwa’’ which is a Ghanaian twi word meaning Cry for Life. Discography includes ‘’Toast to the Gyil and Taste of the Gyil released in 2006’’, “Ameyaw Goes Solo 2000” and “Release 2004”. Kofi Ameyaw also performs with a Congolese group called Bichini Bia Congo, Southpaw Isle, and records with the Bernard Woma Trio (Jumbie Records) & Biakuye.

For more information about Kofi Ameyaw, visit www.sunkwamusic.com

Faculty

 

Professor John Dorsey

Director

African Ensemble

 

Kofi Ameyaw

Associate Director

African Ensemble