Ithaca College

MOJATUBA: Tuba and Dance Fusion Performance - Velvet brown,leading female solo tubist in the world, to give recital at IC

The project MOJATUBA: TUBA AND DANCE FUSION wants to showcase a unique ensemble, which features on the performance stage the artistic collaboration between solo tuba and dancers. The term MOJATUBA, a mixture between the acronym MOJA—which stands for Modern Dance, Original Works, Jazz Styles, and African Influence—and its distinctive association with the tuba, represents a sample of the stylistic creativity that this ensemble can execute. The diverse ethnic theme of the program, especially its African influenced music and dance, contributes to the creation of a soulful energy that connects performers and audience, rendering each performance a profound spiritual experience.

Friday, September 14, 2012
8:15PM Ford Hall

MOJATUBA: TUBA AND DANCE FUSION
Velvet Brown, tuba
Anthony Leach, piano
Jimmy Finnie, percussion (djembe and drumset)
Kikora Franklin, dancer/choreographer
Maria Malizia, dancer
Quilan Arnold, dancer

*Danse Sacre (1960)                    Henri Tomasi (1901-71)

Dr. Martin Luther King, In Memoriam (1984)        Roger Kellaway (b. 1939)

Part I
He Calls to his Children
With serenity and peace of mind
Rejoice in the Gospel
He Calls to his Children

Part II
The March of Freedom
Rejoice in the Gospel

Part III
The Pathway to Glory
We Shall Overcome!
Rejoice in Humanity
Anthony Leach, piano

*How Beautiful (2008)                              Barbara York (b. 1949)

*Mambo-Cha     (2000)                               Alice Gomez (b. 1960)        from “Latin Jazz Suite”                   
Jimmy Finnie, djembe

Intermission

*Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child            Spiritual/arr. V. Brown

Jogetuba (2006)                                         Lim Fang Yee
Anthony Leach, piano
Jimmy Finnie, drum set

*Ritual (1997)                             Neal Corwell (b. 1958)
                Aaron Tindall, euphonium

*denotes piece with dance

Velvet Brown enjoys a professional career as an international soloist and chamber ensemble performer, recording artist, conductor, and orchestral player. She has made regular appearances throughout Europe, Russia, Japan, Canada, and the United States. Brown has served as principal tubist with the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra and as substitute or additional tubist with the Detroit Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony, San Francisco Women's Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. She has garnered high praise as a member of the Monarch Brass Quintet and Brass Ensemble, the Junction Tuba Quartet, and the Garda Duo.

Brown was appointed professor of tuba and euphonium at Penn State in fall 2003. Previously, she taught at Bowling Green State University and Ball State University, and served as an associate director of University Bands at Boston University. She has had many successful students who have been prize winners at various regional, national, and international competitions. Currently, she serves as secretary of the executive committee for the International Tuba and Euphonium Association (ITEA). She is also a board member of the International Women's Brass Conference. Brown is noted for receiving the 1999–2000 William Fulbright Fellowship Vinciguerra Award.

She has released two solo CDs: Velvet and Music for Velvet (Crystal Records). In addition, she has recorded music by the award-winning composer Neal Corwell for the Nicolai Music Label. Her interpretation of John Williams’ Tuba Concerto can be heard on the Bowling Green Philharmonia's Composer's Voice, Volume IV recording, which is forthcoming.

Click here for more information on Velvet Brown's recordings

Additional Bios: 

Kikora Franklin is an associate professor of dance at Penn State. She earned a B.A. in Communications from Howard University and J.D./M.P.A. from Georgia State University in 2000. Under the direction of founder/performer/choreographer Terrie Ajile Axam, Kikora trained for over twenty years in modern, jazz, West African, ballet, and moja dance techniques at Total Dance /Dancical Productions, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia. Kikora has choreographed and performed in artistic productions that toured the Peoples’ Republic of China; Dakar, Senegal; Washington, D.C., and numerous other U.S. cities. Kikora also choreo-graphed and performed with the Atlanta Hawks Dance Team.

Dr. Anthony Leach is professor of music and music education at Penn State. Choirs under Dr. Leach's direction have performed in festivals, competitions, and tours of the United States, Canada, Europe, and South Africa. He was accompanist for the United Negro College Fund Choir, New York City, and the Howard University Choirs, Washington, D.C. In 2004, Leach served as a co-conductor of the World Youth Choir, sponsored by the International Federation of Choral Musicians. Leach has served as guest conductor for events in Belgium, France, Luxemborg, Taiwan, Manila (Philippines), and Japan. Dr. Leach serves as artist-in-residence at the New Bethel Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.

Dr. Jimmy Finnie, percussionist, joined the Indiana State University music faculty in 1994. He taught at East Texas State University and performed with the Northeast Texas Symphony and the Panhandlers Steel Drum Band. Finnie was also principal timpanist for the Terre Haute Symphony and was featured during the 1997 season as percussion soloist with the orchestra. Jimmy has presented concerts throughout the United States, China and Canada. He also performs regularly on drum set, African drums and steel drum. He is an Artist Clinician for the Zildjian Cymbal Company, and Innovative Percussion Mallet Company.

*Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation should contact the School of Music at 607-274-3717.