World Music Showcase caps off the semester

World Music Showcase caps off the semester

Multiple student groups produced a 'participatory' experience

The Ohio State University School of Musichosted the World Music Showcase for students from global musical cultures to display their semesters' work.

The Nov. 25 performance at the Timashev Music Building featured diverse cultural groups consisting of the African Drum Ensemble, Andean Music Ensemble, Buckeye Bhairavi, the Chinese Folk Music Orchestra and a steel band.

Liz Rockwell, a graduate teaching associate and PhD student in musicology and ethnomusicology, produced the World Music Showcase.

Rockwell pursued building a showcase of different musical talents after watching cultural music groups as an undergraduate. She wanted to help reignite collaborative music events that were paused during COVID.

"I did my bachelor's degree at West Virginia University, where there is a thriving world music presence, so I was exposed to the idea of a 'showcase' event where multiple global music groups were featured," she said.

Rockwell produced a spring showcase with the help of Department of Dance Professor Momar Ndiaye, who brought dancers to work with the African Drumming Ensemble. Professor Kristopher Keith, who led the Latin Jazz Ensemble, and Assistant Professor Michelle Wibbelsman, who led the Andean Music Ensemble, also supported the event.

Positive turnout for the spring event helped Rockwell and others to plan another showcase in the autumn semester. Rockwell said the goal was to give other music groups on campus the chance to be featured at the event.

"We set the date as early as possible to make sure we could get the space reserved and let the ensemble members know when it would be happening."

A new goal for the World Music Showcase was to also make it interactive. Rockwell referred to the concept as breaking down the barrier of "stage versus audience" and for the audience to understand and appreciate the culture.

"A world music showcase, for us, was not going to look or feel the same as an orchestra concert. The music we perform is participatory and meant to be celebrated with a community, so we wanted to choose a space that encouraged this," she said.

Rockwell felt the fan support exceeded organizers' expectations with record attendance at the showcase.

"From promoting the event in their networks to helping coordinate stage crew and venue needs, the help from administration, faculty and staff was tremendously appreciated," she said.

Rockwell said the size of Ohio State helps with finding talented performers who are interested in working with different communities.

"My peers and I tell prospective and incoming students that our campus is an amazing place for collaboration, whether between different communities or across disciplines, and I think the World Music Showcase shows a space where passionate people can come together and create, perform and celebrate music."

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