Back in December, we published a story on the U.S. Dept. of State’s American Music Abroad program accepting applications from groups of all genres. Several bluegrass bands contacted us regarding more information with designs to submit applications. We’re pleased to see a few familiar names on the list of those chosen for the 2012-2013 tour..
Della Mae, the all-female bluegrass band from the Boston area got the nod as did Barbara Lamb and Cathy Fink. Congratulations to all of those selected.
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the non-profit organization American Voices, is pleased to announce the ensembles selected for the 2012-2013 season of American Music Abroad. Twelve American musical groups chosen for their musical excellence and educational capability will visit more than 40 countries to present original American music through public concerts, master classes, workshops, jam sessions with local musicians and media outreach. They were selected following a live round of auditions held in New York, St. Louis and San Francisco. More than 270 musical ensembles from over 40 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands competed to take part in this season’s program.
The selected groups include:
Act of Congress (Americana/Acoustic Rock, Alabama)
Audiopharmacy (Hip Hop/Dub, California)
Boston Boys (Soul/Country, Massachusetts)
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer with Barbara Lamb (Folk/Roots, Maryland) (pictured – Left)
The Clinton Curtis Band (Rock/Blues, New York)
Della Mae (Bluegrass, Massachusetts) (pictured – Above)
Keola Beamer & Jeff Peterson, with Moanalani Beamer (Hawaiian Slack Guitar/Hula, Hawaii)
Kyle Dillingham and Horseshoe Road (Heartland Acoustic, Oklahoma)
Mahogany Jones (Hip Hop/Soul, Michigan)
Matuto (Americana, New York)
PROJECT Trio (Jazz/Classical/Hip Hop, New York)
Real Vocal String Quartet (Crossover/Chamber Jazz, California)
Ensembles will travel around the globe for approximately one month each between May 2012 and May 2013. During their respective tours, each ensemble will visit four to six countries. American Music Abroad activities focus on younger and underserved audiences in countries with little or no access to live American performances.
American Music Abroad builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “smart power” diplomacy, embracing the use of a full range of diplomatic tools – in this case music – to bring people together and foster greater understanding.
American Voices, U.S. Department of State Announce 2012-2013 American Music Abroad Participants
As part of the American Music Abroad program, the Department of State and American Voices will create a series of international musical exchange tours. International touring activities will include public concerts, master classes, lecture-demonstrations, workshops, jam sessions with local musicians and media outreach. Ensembles will travel around the globe for approximately one month each between May 2012 and May 2013. Each ensemble will visit 4-6 countries during their respective tours.
American Music Abroad activities focus on younger and underserved audiences in countries with little or no access to live American performances. As part of the American Music Abroad @Home portion of the program, ensembles will also conduct workshops and performances at local schools, community centers and other venues in the Washington, D.C. area.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs promotes international mutual understanding through a wide range of academic, cultural, private sector, professional, and sports exchange programs. These international exchanges engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes, and emerging leaders in many fields in the United States and in more than 160 countries. Alumni of ECA exchanges comprise over one million people around the world, including more than 50 Nobel Laureates and more than 320 current or former heads of state and government.
The Association of American Voices has presented concerts, workshops and master classes, and summer youth performing arts academies to over 200,000 audience members in 110 countries over the past two decades. With a focus on nations emerging from conflict or isolation, American Voices has taken its unique brand of cultural engagement programs, Jazz Bridges, YES Academy and Hiplomacy, to nations such as Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. In 2010, the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy (USCCD) selected American Voices as a Best Practice Organization in recognition of its work in cultural engagement.
For more information, please visit http://exchanges.state.gov/cultural/ama.html and http://amvoices.org/ama/ or contact: Marthena Cowart of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State, atCowartMS@state.gov.
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