LOIRE COTLER

The Healing Power of Music, The Magic Art of Improvisation, The Spirituality of Rhythm
Ta Ka Di Mi Doo-dn Be-Op Di Mi Ta Ka thom doom DHUM Jaah nu sah pah … “ Don't ask. Just listen. Because you have to hear it to believe it. It’s a staccato swing that’s alive– essential and timeless - passionately explored by an artist named for a river that has spawned centuries of accomplishment and creativity. For Rhythm Vocalist Loire Cotler, life has always been about the natural rhythm of the universe which has propelled her into a life, like her music, that is defined by pure cadence and pulse. Loire has now done no less than create an entirely new genre using the intimate power of her voice as a rhythm instrument. 

RIVER GUERGUERIAN

River Guerguerian, Director of Asheville Rhythm, draws upon his richly diverse experiences, to play across a remarkable span of musical genres and traditions, both obscure and mainstream. As a highly regarded studio musician, River has recorded on over 250 albums and film soundtracks. He has performed with such groups as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, New Music Consort, Tibetan Singing Bowl Ensemble, Paul Winter Consort, Talujon Percussion Ensemble, Lizz Wright, Chuck Berry, Sophie B. Hawkins, and Ziggy Marley and The Gipsy Kings. 

NAGHMEH FARAHMAND

Naghmeh Farahmand is a Persian percussionist from a musical family and grew up in a house full of drums. Her father, Mahmoud Farahmand, is one of the leading percussion masters of Iran. She has studied tonbak, santoor, daf: all traditional Persian and Kurdish intruments. Naghmeh has performed in many well known Iranian traditional bands in Iran and festivals around the world.  She has performed with Hassan Nahid, Iranian master of the ney and Hengameh Akhavan, a singer of traditional music. She now lives in Canada where she explores world music: Arabian, Bulgarian, Turkish, Indian and Jazz. She teaches master classes and workshops internationally.

ADAMA DEMBELE

Adama Dembele is a master djembéfola (djembe player) from Ivory Coast, West Africa. Born into a family of musicians, he has toured several continents with various major acts such Oumou Sangare, Salif Keita, Affou Keita, Sogona Djata and many others. Adama has played in several drum and dance companies including Yelemba d'Abidjan, Ensemble Koteba, and Congoba. 
Before coming to the United States Adama founded Djembeso Drum and Dance Ensemble. "Djembeso" in the West African dialect Bambará means "the house of djembe". Adama chose that name because his family has been playing the djembe for 33 generations and his native home was known as the house where the djembe is played. People from all over the world have come there to study and experience this rich cultural tradition.  

YOWANA SARI

Gamelan Yowana Sari has been a performing Balinese Art Ensemble since 2011. The group is currently in residence at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. They’ve recently returned from a two week tour in Indonesia, performing in Pengosekan, Bali, at the home of the extraordinary composer I Dewa Ketut Alit. Gamelan YS performed two of Alit’s works along with other kreasi baru (new works) by Evan Ziporyn and Pak Windha. Gamelan YS has a long relationship with Alit as a constant source of encouragement and instruction. The group plans to return in 2019 for a longer tour of the island.

ADAM MAALOUF

Adam Maalouf's music is found where the modern meets the ancient, where the Pan-tam (or handpan) meets traditional styles of music from around the globe brought together using both organic and electronic drums, beats and synthesizers. Pan-tam is the name of the "flying saucer" instrument invented in the year 2000, and the word stems from the combination of the Pan from Trinidad, and the Ghatam (clay pot drum) from South India. A New York City based composer and performer, Adam has shared his music in venues across the world including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, MoMA, St. Basil's Cathedral, Tanglewood, Wolf Trap, The BANFF Center and Austin City Limits. As a collaborator, Adam has performed with ensembles such as The Brooklyn Raga Massive, Pink Martini, Ensemble Signal, The Atlanta Symphony, The National Arabic Orchestra, The Asheville Percussion All-Stars and The Gil Evan's Centennial Project. Adam performs regularly as a solo artist and with his world music project "Future Tribe".  

ZABUMBA ASHEVILLE SAMBA

For over 10 years, Zabumba has been Asheville’s hometown Samba ensemble.
They bring high energy artistry to Brazilian folkloric music.

MEGAN SPRAGUE

Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, Megan Sprague is a Sound Practitioner. She began studying traditional singing bowl meditation with Mani Carter, a Nepalese woman. Megan explored a variety of sound healing modalities with leading instructors Diane Mandle, Dr. John Beaulieu, Silvia Nakkach, and Phillipe and Lea Garner.  In 2014, she became certified as a Sound Practitioner at the Sage Center for the Healing Arts in New York. Since then, she has completed a Gong Master course with the legendary Don Contreaux as well as a two week intensive at the Dome Center, in Spain.  Restorative Sounds is the name of Megan’s practice, where she facilitates experiences of awakening the heart into “Health, Happiness, and Harmony.”

SUE FORD & VILLAGE MARIMBA

A North Carolina native, Sue Ford is a singer-songwriter-multi instrumentalist. She has been teaching music to Asheville preschoolers through middle-schoolers since 2003.
Sue is a composer, writing choral music for Womansong as well as her students. She has performed for 50 years and released an album of originals in 2004. She has won first place in the Mountain Xpress “Best Music Teacher” four years running. Sue Ford, former director of Evergreen’s EMBE Marimba Band, is launching a new venture called Village Marimba.  Sue continues to spread the joy of playing marimba music in a community ensemble.

CHRIS ROSSER & ELIOT WADOPIAN

Chris and Eliot will be joining our Teaching Artists for the Saturday night concert at Diana Wortham Theatre to perform various original pieces with them. Chris is a composer and multi-instrumentalist well known for his unusual stringed instruments, Indian dotar and Turkish cumbus oud. Eliot plays the upright bass with masterful grace, for which he has won two Grammy Awards. Both men are master musicians and play internationally. When joined by River, they become the much loved
Free Planet Radio.

BRANDI MIZILCA

Brandi Mizilca is an accomplished Asheville-based artist who has has studied dance and movement her entire life and Middle Eastern music and dance since 1993. She has performed solo and with various ensembles throughout the U.S. as a dancer, choreographer, and musician and is especially known for her electrifying improvisational belly-dance performances to live music. In addition to teaching and performing her signature style of dance, which she calls “Transformational Bellydance,” Brandi Mizilca also performs as a drummer and multi-instrumentalist, teaches percussion classes for women, and works with Asheville Rhythm. 

BRIAN T. CARTER

Brian T. Carter is a Music Performer, Educator and Group Drumming Facilitator, based in Asheville, NC.  As an in-demand Drumset Artist/Middle Eastern Percussionist, he’s known for his danceable groove, joyful presence and articulate musicality.  He’s shared the stage with such notables as Glen Velez, Shane Shanahan and Raquy Danzinger, as a member of her band, Raquy and The Cavemen.  As an educator, Brian brings tangible passion, 25 years of diverse experiences and clarity of explanation to his students.  He is the founder and former C.D.O. (Chief Drumming Officer) of Brooklyn Drum Circles.   He holds an MA in Music Education from the Aaron Copland School of Music and is a trained REMO Health Rhythms Facilitator. 

DJEMBE DOUMAN

Greg Pratt, Kaleb Lavender, Adam Kovatch, Charmaine Kirsch, Sarah Yancey, Breanna Pratt