Virtual or In-Person FINE ARTS FESTIVALS
So much fun — take a look at some of our highlights!
Made for the entire school community. We provide the license to have fun with activities, games, performances, all while learning. Bouncy house optional!
A Selection of DMDL Fine Arts Festival Offerings:
Description:
This workshop is a presentation about percussion from certain parts of the world. It includes an introduction and brief history of the origins and rhythms of the doumbek, djembe and congas. Participants will learn about where each instrument is from and how to play one rhythm pattern related to one. Joyce will also demonstrate rhythms from North Africa and the Mediterranean, such as Ayoub and Maqsoom, and also rhythms from West Africa such as Kuku, and from Cuba, such as tumbao and guaguanco.
Students can use lightweight pots and pans as substitutes for actual percussion instruments.
Artist: Joyce Lindsey
Duration: 45 minutes
Description:
Jazz recording artist and artistic director/conductor of the world-renowned Chicago Jazz Philharmonic. Orbert Davis will showcase the talents of his musical family. Join Zoe on bass guitar, Sydney on violin, Donovan on drums, and Benjamin on the vibraphone as they accompany their dad on a jazz masterpiece entitled “Cantaloupe Island” by Herbie Hancock.
Artist: The Davis Family
Duration: 6 minutes
Description:
Mendez incorporates the unique rhythms in her debut recording titled “Al Otro Lado Del Charcho” (The Other Side of the Pond). The song describes her journey and musical evolution. “The lyrics speak about ‘living on the other side of the pond.’ According to Mendez, “Life in the United States is hard but, in the end, I learned how to live, love, and learn. I wouldn’t have grown as much if I hadn’t come to this side of the pond.”
Artist: Fabiola Mendez
Duration: 6 minutes
Description:
Music and song is fundamental to the human experience and expression. It connects us to culture, ancestry and traditions. We are all part of a musical tradition and therefore, all have a story to share and to express. Jazz vocalist, Ricardo Jimenez will express some of these stories through this virtual presentation, including some references to other genres of music.
Artist: Ricardo Jimenez
Duration: 50 minutes
Description:
An oral presentation in the great storyteller tradition in which Chicago veteran entertainer, Maggie Brown and narrates the history and evolution of African American music. This workshop offers not only educational and informative African American heritage facts, but also encourages the audience to see themselves as global citizens, united by our common human needs. Maggie also uses songs to demonstrate the various genres which have been created, from African chants to contemporary urban music.
Artist: Maggie Brown
Duration: 45 minutes
Description:
Join 5th-grader Benjamin Davis as he demonstrates how to prepare his favorite dessert, ‘Banana Pudding’ (Adapted from Paula Deen’s ‘Not Yo Mama’s Banana Pudding’)
Banana Pudding is a Southern classic and is popular at many American family celebrations. Benjamin will guide participants through each step of the process.
Artist: Benjamin Davis
Duration: 15 minutes
An Exploration of Song, Story, and Society Told Through the Trumpet and its Repertoire
Description:
Ricardo Jimenez will help participants develop an understanding of music history through discussion and performance of important repertoire by historical figures in music related to trumpet. Students will listen to and discuss how the music reflects the society in which it was written and make connections about what is relatable today and what is not. Through demonstrations with the trumpet, Ricardo will inspire youth to appreciate the arts and want to participate in music programs.
Ricardo Jimenez is a trumpet player and jazz vocalist at Lawrence University. He was principal trumpeter in the Lawrence Symphony Orchestra, the Lawrence University Wind Ensemble, and lead trumpeter in the University’s Jazz Ensemble.
Artist: Ricardo Jimenez
Duration: 45 minutes
Description:
This presentation will inform students about tribal African masks and African culture. As an activity, students get to make their own tribal mask during the session. The supplies and materials students will need on-hand to create their mask will be provided.
Artist: Ms. Love
Duration: 45 minutes
Description:
From the motherland to big band. From Bebop to Pop. From R&B to Hip Hop. As popular music had grown and changed, so has the art of tap dance. M.A.D.D. Rhythms is proud to present this new collaborative work, conceived and directed by its Founder & Director, Bril Barrett.
This demonstration is part performance, part instruction and part history lesson. We invite you to explore the different forms that tap dance has taken all the way from its roots in Africa, up to today’s contemporary styles.
Artist: Bril Barrett
Duration: 45 minutes
Description:
Sekou Conde is a committed artist that skillfully teaches and performs traditional forms of West African music, song, and dance. Sekou’s dream is to bring together musicians and dancers from diverse backgrounds and experiences as a means of advancing the concept that by cultivating rhythmic patterns of expression based on harmony, love, and understanding… peaceful modes of living can be achieved for all human beings.
Artist: Sekou Conde
Duration: 40 minutes
Description:
Erendira Izguerra is a multi-instrumentalist, educator and a proud Mexican-American Chicago native. Always drawn to the music of Mexico, Erendira started Chicago’s first collegiate mariachi ensemble at University of Illinois at Chicago in 2014 and also founded Chicago’s first all-women mariachi ensemble, ‘Mariachi Sirenas’, in 2017.
Coming to you ‘live’ all the way from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Erendira Izguerra’s mariachi presentation will include a live performance with colleagues and friends from Mariachi Femenil Nuevo Tecalitlan and others. Join us with singing and dancing, as they explore the history and geography of Mexico’s favorite and most representative music – MARIACHI.
Artist: Erendira Izguerra
Duration: 45 minutes
Description:
Trained as a classical violinist and violist, Lynn is Principal Violist with the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Illinois-Urbana, and her Master’s Degree from the University of Notre Dame, where she was awarded a merit-based, full scholarship with stipend.
Lynn’s love for classical music is evidenced by the talents of her four children – Sophie, Lucy, Aidan and August. The Allaways will be performing live from the living room of their home.
Artist: The Allaway Family
Duration: 15 minutes
Description:
Join Dr. Myers as she leads us through a Vegan Ramen with Tofu recipe. Younger students will need assistance with chopping. Have your ingredients ready ahead of time if you’d like to join in real time or join to watch for helpful tips and techniques or to ask questions about vegan cooking in general.
Artist: Dr. Diane Myers
Duration: 20 minutes
Description:
Footwork is a style of house dance/street dance that originated in Chicago in the late 1980s and 90s. It started as a dance to house music on the West Side of Chicago in the mid/late 1980s, eventually spreading to the South Side and inspiring its own genre of house music.
Eric Bitoy has been performing and teaching Chicago Footwork worldwide since 2001. He has appeared on “America’s Best Dance Crew”, “America’s Got Talent” and many other media outlets. During this presentation, Eric will demonstrate the complexity of Chicago Footwork and perform various syncopation techniques of the artform.
Artist: Eric Bitoy
Duration: 45 minutes
Description:
Listening to music is fantastic, and there’s no doubt that just that activity in itself can facilitate therapeutic goals like relaxation. But a music therapist has the skills and training to turn simply listening to music passively into an active experience (GCF; Jun 7, 2013).
Josh Ramos grew up in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. He was introduced to gospel, funk, rock, and jazz early on, and these genres continue to inspire him. He’s toured with Ramsey Lewis, Marquis Hill, Makaya McCraven, and countless others. Join Josh and watch how he personifies how music can help mold the character of a person.
Artist: Josh Ramos
Duration: 45 minutes
Description:
Featuring a versatile group of artists performing a wide repertoire of musical selections, Brassworks is comprised of highly sought-after instrumentalists who have appeared with the Lyric Opera, Grant Park, and Ravinia Festival Orchestras, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, and Chicago Jazz Ensemble. In addition, its members’ talents are featured in numerous CD, TV and radio projects. They have performed with notable artists such as Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Michael Bolton, Manhattan Transfer, Yanni and many more. The group’s instrumentation utilizes the trumpet, trombone, french horn and tuba. It performs as a quintet, led by its founder Mark Olen, offering classical and popular compositions by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Vivaldi, Telemann, Albinoni, Clarke, Berlin, Joplin and other. Each musician will present a historical overview, as well as a demonstration of their respective instruments that’s geared to the age-level of its audience.
Artist: Mark Olen
Duration: 45 minutes
Description:
Aaron’s presentation will give students an overview of the origin of Gospel Music and its integral role in shaping the African American experience, as well as the impact it has on society as a whole. Participants will take a musical journey, hear examples of old negro spirituals dating back to the 1800’s, and follow its evolution all the way to the contemporary gospel music of today. Through singing and movement activities, students will be asked to join in the fund. The goal of this presentation is to give students a small glimpse of the richness of the cultural influences Gospel Music provides and wet their appetites to embark on a journey of the spiritual disciplines Gospel Music brings.
Artist: Aaron Eddy
Duration: 50 minutes