Carnival Band Fans,

We are producing a special workshop on Monday, August 24th. Vocal coach Patti Powell will be joining us at Britannia Centre at 7:30pm. Patti is the director of Acapellaboratory, a community choir out of Lions Den at Adanac and Commercial Drive. They perform sacred and not so sacred music from around the world. Come join us in learning how to sing!!

Yours in Community,

The Carnival Band

The Open Air Orchestra Society is proud to offer yet another free workshop with yet another terrific musician. Paul Bray will be leading a samba percussion workshop from 7:30 – 10pm on Monday, September 1st in the common room of the Grace MacInnis Housing Co-op, 825 Salsbury Drive.

Paul Bray is a dynamic and charismatic percussionist working as a music educator and performer in Vancouver. First schooled in classical styles, Paul has focused his attention to African influenced styles, specializing in Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian folkloric styles.

Paul has studied extensively in Cuba and has collaborated with Vancouver’s Afro-Bahia Dance Productions and Yasse Afro-Arts. He also works as a studio musician and directs Sambata, Vancouver’s 20-piece Escola de Samba.

Currently, Paul is the percussion instructor at the Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach – an Arts Umbrella youth program, and is guest instructor with the Britannia World Rhythms Ensemble. In the performing arena Paul is a member of Tambor Iroko, led by Jack Duncan, Candela, and a regular club percussionist, collaborating with local DJ’s in Vancouver.

This workshop is uniquely crafted for the Carnival Band and will be held at the Strathcona Community Centre on May 18th, from 7:30 – 9:30 pm. All are welcome to this event, which is free of charge.

Russell Shumsky is a professional drummer and teacher with over twenty years of experience. Skilled on the marimba, djembé, dunduns, bodhran, and congas, Russell is both an incredible performer and a patient facilitator. He has traveled to West Africa five times to learn from master drummers and bring back their powerful rhythms. He also studied music at the University of Victoria and Vancouver Community Collage.

Russell regularly leads 8-week hand drumming courses, and hosts drum circles throughout Vancouver. To find out more, go to www.drumming.ca.

Pepe Danza, the well-known and highly sought-after local percussionist, will be hosting a 2-hour workshop specifically for the rhythm section of The Carnival Band on February 11th, 2008. A native of Montevideo, Uruguay, Joseph “Pepe” Danza started his professional career at thirteen, then studied at the National Conservatory. Pepe quickly developed an interest in world music and spent three years studying shakuhachi in Japan, and two years studying Indian music in India and Sri Lanka. Moving to Canada in 1989, he quickly established himself as one of the foremost drummers and band leaders on the West coast. His credits include performances with South Indian master drummer Trichy Sankaran, and concert tours throughout Europe, Korea and New Zealand.