This week, thousands of New York City elementary school children will visit Carnegie Hall for Musical Explorers concerts that spotlight three African and African American musical traditions from around the planet: Gullah music with Quiana Parler, Malian traditional music with Yacouba Sissoko, and hip-hop with Soul Science Lab.
Students have been studying these three musical traditions and cultures in their classroom this fall, while developing singing and listening skills. There will also be public Family Concerts featuring the same music and artists on Saturday, January 14. These concerts are the first time that Carnegie Hall has been able to welcome elementary students back to the Hall since 2020.
About the Artists
Quiana Parler is the lead singer, lyricist, and composer for the Grammy Award–winning Gullah band Ranky Tanky. The ensemble has toured nationally and internationally, performing at such venues as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, and has been featured on The Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, and the American Music Awards.
Quiana has been the most sought-after vocalist in South Carolina’s low country for more than 20 years, rising to national prominence in the United States after her success on the 2003 season of American Idol. She has worked and collaborated with diverse artists such as Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Bobby McFerrin, Miranda Lambert, and many more. She uses her artistry as a vehicle for sharing the Gullah musical and cultural traditions of her ancestors. Ranky Tanky ‘s discography includes Ranky Tanky (2017), Good Time (2019) and Recorded Live at the 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (2022).
Yacouba Sissoko was born in Kita, Mali, to a long line of jelis. When he was nine, he began playing the kora and learning centuries-old oral traditions from his grandfather. By the time he was 15, Yacouba was performing with well-known African bands, which took him to the US.
Yacouba has toured and recorded with famous African musicians, such as Amy Koïta, Baaba Maal, Sekouba “Bambino” Diabaté, Kerfala Kanté, and American musicians, including Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon, Lauryn Hill, and Regina Carter. He skillfully combines Malian traditions with a range of musical styles. In 2017, he released his first solo album, Siya.
Soul Science Lab (SSL) is a music and multimedia duo powered by Chen Lo and Asante Amin.
(headline image: Kora player and singer Yacouba Sissoko as part of Carnegie Kids: My City, My Song with Magda Giannikou, Falu – Photo by Richard Termine)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.