Arnold-Miller Cultural Heritage Program
The Arnold-Miller Cultural Heritage Program offers instruction through culture-bearer led heritage music and dance ensembles, master classes, and internships in music and the arts.
The goal of the program is to address racial inequity in music and music education by educating students from historically marginalized ethnic groups in their heritage music forms and providing skill building in music performance, music education, and other music business professions. The creation of The Arnold–Miller Cultural Heritage Program was inspired by the work and dedication of Billy Arnold and Mary Ellen Miller, CMSS founding faculty members. Both Arnold and Miller have inspired generations of Springfield youth as musical leaders.
The Arnold-Miller Cultural Heritage Program is launching with an exciting inaugural season for Spring 2023, from March 21st through May 18th. Programming will offer instruction in three Afro-descendant heritage musics: African American jazz, traditional Ewe music/dance from Ghana and Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba. Students will learn these traditions through weekly workshop intensives in the Springfield and Holyoke Public Schools and at CMSS, and weekly master classes that are open to the public. Instruction will be given by three renowned Artists-in-Residence who are expert culture bearers in these forms.
Please join us for our Spring 2023 Master Classes (free and open to the public)
Ewe Traditional Music Master Class with Nani Agbeli
Tuesdays, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, March 21 – May 16
opens in a new windowNani Agbeli is a master drummer and dancer in Ewe traditional music from Ghana. He has performed nationally and teaches at Pomona University. Nani Agbeli’s master class participants will learn Gahu, a foundation piece from Ghanaian Ewe drum/dance literature. Participants will be able to learn drumming on the sogo, kidi or kaganu drums, and other percussion instruments that include the axatse and gankogui. Students will also learn correlating dances and songs. Students will also learn Ewe history that is inscribed in each piece, and general Ghanaian cultural and historical information.
African American Jazz Master Class with Charles Tolliver
Fridays, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, March 24- May 12
Legendary trumpeter and composer opens in a new windowCharles Tolliver, the 2022 Jazz Foundation of America Lifetime Achievement Awardee, will instruct professional jazz musicians, music educators, and jazz students in jazz improvisation, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messenger arrangements, and other arrangements in an ensemble format. A consistent rhythm section of piano, bass and drums of local professional musicians will provide the foundation for instruction. Mr. Tolliver will also teach about jazz history based on his lived experience as founder of Strata East Records and from his work with other jazz masters like Jackie McLean, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and Max Roach.
Workshops for Youth and Young Adults:
African American Jazz with Charles Tolliver
Charles Tolliver will deliver jazz instruction to high school and early college students in the CMSS community through weekly workshop intensives at CMSS. He will instruct students in jazz improvisation, song learning and arrangements in an ensemble format. A consistent rhythm section of piano, bass and drums of local professional musicians will provide the foundation for instruction. Mr. Tolliver will also teach students about jazz history based on his lived experience as founder of Strata East Records and from his work with other jazz masters like Jackie McLean, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and Max Roach.
Ewe Traditional Music with Nani Agbeli
Nani Agbeli will deliver Ewe drumming and dance instruction to elementary and middle school students in the Springfield and Holyoke Public Schools through weekly workshop intensives. Participating students will learn two pieces from Ghanaian Ewe drum/dance literature: Agbekor and Gahu. Students will be able to learn drumming on the sogo, kidi or kaganu drums, and other percussion instruments that include the axatse and gankogui. Students will also learn correlating dances and songs. Students will learn the background and history of the piece, about Ewe history, and Ghanaian culture and history. This program is offered at Rebecca Johnson Elementary School and STEM Middle Academy in Springfield, and E.N. White Elementary School in Holyoke.
Traditional Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba with Bomba de Aqui
Brendalíz Cepeda leads opens in a new windowBomba de Aqui, a dance and music company that performs and teaches Afro-Puerto Rican traditions, with a focus on bomba. Instructors include Brendaliz Cepeda, lead dance, Oscar Noel, lead drummer, Saul Peneloza, lead drummer, Gloria Adosta, voice and maracas. Brendalíz Cepeda is the granddaughter of the great bomba performer Rafael Cepeda. A culture bearer in the truest sense, she learned the art and its history in her family. Saul Peñalosa, Bomba de Aquí’s musical director, is a well-known percussionist. The team will deliver instruction to elementary and middle school students through twice weekly workshop intensives. Participating students will learn two pieces from the Afro-Puerto Rican tradition: Sica and Yuba. Students will have the opportunity to learn drumming, the cua, maracas, traditional bomba dance, and songs. This program is offered at STEM Middle Academy in Springfield and E.N. White Elementary School in Holyoke.