WMPA Community Concerts
presents
Drums Around the World
Featuring Tom Teasley, world music percussionist
Facilitation and Music by Munit Mesfin, Ethiopian-American singer and songwriter
With special guests Ethiopian Dancers from the Ethiopian Community Support & Advocacy Center (ECSAC)
Date Saturday, March 29, 2025
Time 2 pm to 3:30 pm
Place Patrick Henry Recreation Center, 4653 Taney Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304
Free. No tickets required.
A unique, interactive journey through the history of world rhythms and percussion with Tom Teasley, renowned world/jazz percussionist, with music with facilitation and music by Ethiopian-American singer, songwriter, producer, Munit Mesfin.
Explore how rhythms from around the world often have a commonality. Ancient instruments are combined with the most recent advances in music technology. Activities include rhythmic coordination with egg shakers and merging of Indian, Brazilian and African rhythmic traditions. The program includes Ethiopian dancers from the ESCAC and a grand finale that will have the audience on their feet playing percussion instruments and dancing.
Explore how rhythms from around the world often have a commonality. Ancient instruments are combined with the most recent advances in music technology. Activities include rhythmic coordination with egg shakers and merging of Indian, Brazilian and African rhythmic traditions. The program includes Ethiopian dancers from the ESCAC and a grand finale that will have the audience on their feet playing percussion instruments and dancing.
Tom Teasley
Tom Teasley is an award-winning multidimensional sound artist specializing in ancient and futuristic percussion from around the world combined with American Jazz. He is a past Drummie Awardee for Best World Percussionist. He has been awarded several Helen Hayes Awards and Nominations for his work with live theater. In addition, he is the recipient for numerous Wammie (Washington Area Music Association) World Music Awards. His free-thinking approach has provided the opportunity for numerous tours abroad as a cultural envoy for the US Department of State. These include historic performances to Jerusalem, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, China, South Korea, and many others. It is through these tours; collaborating with master indigenous musicians, as well as teaching that form the basis for his passion of sharing the universal language of music.
His educational activities are vast and are intended to reach almost all possible recipients. These include national and international festivals, conservatories and universities, high school, and elementary students. A short list of places Tom has presented include Eastman School of Music, Peabody Conservatory, China Conservatory, Korea Institute of the Arts, Muscat Festival (Oman), PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention) and many others. In addition, he has shared his passion at hundreds of elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the world.
Munit Mesfin
Munir Mesfin is an Ethiopian-American singer, songwriter, teaching artist, and producer. She is a pioneer of the Ethio-Soul movement, bringing elements of jazz improvisation, reggae grooves, and songs of resistance, with soulful, sultry melodies in her Ethiopian flavored style. Her influences hail from around the world - from Girma Beyene to Miriam Makeba, Roberta Flack to Zap Mama, Bob Marley to Chaka Khan!
Munit was born in Ethiopia and raised in India, Namibia, South Africa, and the US, an experience that made her quite the global citizen and a woman who strongly believes in human rights, peace, and freedom for all! She sings and writes about social issues, Pan-Africanism, self-knowledge, liberation, and introspection as a way of life. Her live shows are filled with joyful storytelling and positive vibrations!
