* Bay Street Brassworks

Brass Quintet

Bay Street Brassworks, Maryland’s nationally acclaimed brass quintet, performs a wide variety of musical genres ranging from Bach to Bebop.The ensemble has performed hundreds of educational programs, concerts, and master classes, across the United States and abroad. These performing artists received the Grand Prize at the New York Brass Conference International Brass Quintet Competition in 2003, and excel in sharing their passion and knowledge with youth.

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‡ Curtis Blues
One-Man Band

Blues preservationist and one-man band, Curtis Blues, is a talented musician and educator whose performances keep the tradition of acoustic Delta blues alive, and demonstrate for students the roots of modern rock and hip-hop music. Curtis has been playing Delta blues since he was fourteen years old, when he was exposed to some of the last living Delta blues masters at folk festivals. Curtis has recorded two critically acclaimed CDs and performs at blues festivals and schools in an effort to pass this precious music down to the next generation.

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NEW! * ‡ DishiBeM G.R.O.W.

The Great Recycled Orchestra Workshop (G.R.O.W.) began as a simple concept - a
performance piece using instruments made from repurposed materials. G.R.O.W. is comprised of three artists from the Teaching Artist Institute; Kwame Opare, renowned African dancer; Kevin Martin, a musician with 20 years of experience
with steel drums; and beat boxer Max Bent. Dancer Matthew Olwell, rounds out the ensemble. G.R.O.W.’s mission is to educate students about the solid waste crisis facing the world today and inspire them, through performances and residencies, to take action in their own communities.

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* KEVIN GIFT

Pianist

Kevin Gift began studying the piano at the age of four in Caracas, Venezuela, and first performed in public at age seven. He received his professional training at Emory University and at the Northwestern University School of Music. A winner of numerous prizes and awards, including a Steinway Society Grant, Kevin has performed throughout the United States, Latin America, and Europe.

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JALI-D

The Drum Talker

David Foreman, aka ‘Jali-D,’ is an accomplished percussionist and spoken word artist who simultaneously combines his talents into an art form he calls “Rappercussions.” His intelligent and creative rhymes have entertained and educated both children and adults nationwide. Along with his work in schools, Jali-D has recorded an educational music CD called “Mind Rhymes,” and has written a score for an FDA/Cartoon Network health campaign.

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* MILKSHAKE

Children’s Rock n’ Roll

Milkshake is a rock duo for kids and kids at heart, made up of vocalist Lisa Mathews and acoustic guitarist Mikel Gehl. The group has released three award-winning CDs including two Parents’ Choice Awards and a NAPPA Gold Award. Their latest CD, Great Day, received a Grammy nomination. Cookie Magazine says
“Mathews and Gehl, both parents, know that good music doesn’t require anything more than a catchy hook and an inviting chorus. To appeal to their audience, they don’t dumb down the music – they just play it straight. The results are entirely enjoyable.” Milkshake’s videos can be seen on Noggin, PBS KIDS, and Discovery Kids.

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* ‡ ALDEN PHELPS

Songwriter, Musician, and Artist

Alden Phelps is an artist, songwriter, and musician with eighteen years of experience as a performer. Far-fetched and funny scenarios are brought to life through his songs, unexpected rhythms and lively, interactive performances.
He has performed everywhere, from schools and libraries, to The National Theatre, to festivals like First Night Annapolis and Columbia Festival for the Arts. A graduate of MICA, Alden co-founded Open Space Arts center in 1989, and for the next 14 years he wrote and performed stage plays, musicals, and puppet productions.

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Steel Drum Music

Kevin Martin has been playing, building, and teaching people to play steel drum instruments for over twenty years. Rockcreek Steel Drums has built and sold thousands of steel drum instruments in over 40 countries. Kevin has also
played thousands of steel drum performances and brought his workshops to festivals, events, and schools. Kevin works to spread the experience of playing steel drums and the history of this great instrument born in Trinidad.

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African dancer and Drummer

A dancer, drummer, singer, songwriter, storyteller, and recording artist, Ssuuna is an energetic performer from Uganda. In addition to having delighted and educated school audiences about life in East Africa, in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., Ssuuna has performed at The World Bank, The Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian, and on numerous college campuses around the country.
In 2008, Ssuuna was named YA National Artist of the Year.

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Performing Songwriter

Sue Trainor has a gift for stirring up other folks’ creativity. Her energy and enthusiasm capture students’ attention, and her sense of humor and
down-to-earth approach keep it. She has received consistently excellent reviews for her assemblies, residencies and professional development training programs offered through Young Audiences, Wolf Trap, the Teaching Artist Institute (TAI),
Quest, Very Special Arts, and the Maryland Artist/Teacher Institute (MATI). Sue tours with the vocal trio Hot Soup, and records cds as a solo artist. Her most recent CD for children, “In Our Own Words,” won the 2010 WAMMIE Award for “Best Children’s Music Recording” from the Washington Area Music Association.

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Japanese Music and Dance
Touring Artist/Limited Availability

This Japanese taiko drum group has dazzled audiences worldwide with its electrifying performances since 1995. Taiko means big drum and Taikoza draws from Japan’s rich tradition of music and performance, and is inspired by the many festivals and rhythms of Japan. “Beginnings,” Taikoza’s first album, was nominated for a 2004 Just Plain Folks Music Award. Taikoza has appeared on ESPN at the Sumo Tournament held at Madison Square Garden, and have toured internationally. You can also hear Taikoza in the Nintendo game “Red Steel.”

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