Salieu Suso, a Gambian master musician and kora-harp player, will visit Ramapo for a performance-demonstration and discussion on Tuesday, February 21, 6 – 7:30 p.m. in the Alumni Lounges in the Student Center.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  Mr. Suso comes from a long line of jali/griots (musicians/historians/storytellers) in the Gambia and has lived in New York since 1989.  He will explain his family’s heritage, the role of jali in his West African culture, the kora, and his music.  The kora is a magnificent 21-stringed harp played with both hands, fingers and thumbs separated to play three parts simultaneously. Jali kora players accompany themselves while singing songs, telling stories, and giving praise.  If you haven’t heard it before, the instrument has a rich sound and its music is stunningly beautiful.  Mr. Suso has recorded on Lyrichord Discs, Smithsonian Folkways, and Verve Records.  He has performed solo kora or with his ensemble at major venues, universities, and museums, including the United Nations, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Symphony Space, Apollo Theater of Harlem, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rutgers, and NYU.  He has participated in international development awareness programs, such as the UN’s Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the International Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination in 2015 and Voices Against Ebola in 2016.

His visit to Ramapo, funded by a CA Platinum Grant and organized by the Music Program, contributes to the college-wide Year of Africa and Black History Month celebrations.

For more information, contact Professor Marc Gidal (mgidal@ramapo.edu.)

Students in Professor Marc Gidal’s Music, Technology, and Media class will go on a field trip to the Morris Museum and the Edison Museum. This will provide students with first hand experience and understanding of key musical technologies in the 19th and early 20th centuries: mechanical music boxes, player pianos and organs, and acoustic disc recordings.

This is a closed event.

A trio of Brazilian guitarists who are touring the East Coast will stop at Ramapo for a day of performance-demonstrations, explanations, and discussion in three of Ramapo’s music courses. These superb professional guitarists are Ricardo Peixoto and, from Brazil, Roserio Souza and Edinho Gerber, who perform together regularly at “Duo Violao Brasil” (Guitar Duo Brazil).

For more information contact Marc Gidal at mgidal@ramapo.edu

Aeolus Quartet Performs Ramapo Students’ Works

Thursday, April 20th 2017 at 2:00pm, York Room, Birch Mansion, free admission and open to the public

Inspired by classical and contemporary composers, students of Prof. Gilad Cohen’s course Musicianship III: Composition have been challenged to compose string quartets of their own.  The New-York-based award-winning Aeolus Quartet will be presenting a concert of more than 10 student works written in this course.

Established in 2008 at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Aeolus Quartet have won awards in the Coleman International Chamber Ensemble Competition, Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition, and International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition in New England.

Guitarists Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniola to headline the Les Paul Festival Concert at Ramapo College, Feb 25, 2017.

The 2017 Les Paul Festival Concert will feature:

Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniola

with special guest Gary Mazzaroppi

and Ramapo singers Jackie Narciso and Benjamin Sims

Saturday, February 25, 2017, 8 p.m.

Berrie Center, Ramapo College

Mahwah, NJ

As part of the Les Paul Festival Week, guitarist Peter Prisco will visit and perform with Professor P.J. Cotroneo. He will discuss the art of improvisation as well as demonstrating live how improvisation happens as well as the art of interplay between musicians.

The Ramapo College Music Program presents:

The Ramapo College Concert Band

Dr. Chris Wilhjelm, Director

 

Danny Elfman – Nightmare Before Christmas

Phillip Sparke – Shalom

Frank Ticheli – Sun Dance

 

Tue, Dec. 6, 2016, 7:30 pm

H-Wing Auditorium

Ramapo College of New Jersey

 

Admission free

Don’t miss this evening great music!

 

Ramapo Chorale presents: Caravan

Music from Africa and America with holiday favorites!

Tickets: Adults $15 | Students $5

Available at the Berrie Center Box Office

 

Sunday, December 4th | 4:00 PM

Old Paramus Church

660 East Glen Avenue | Ridgewood, NJ

Tickets $5

Brought to you by “4GotteN SuitCase” and co-sonsored by the the Ramapo Music Club, Fusion Dance Club, and Fooligans.

All proceeds go to charity

Location: H-Wing Auditorium

Date: November 17th, 2016

Time: 10:00pm -11:30pm

Ramapo’s student bands will perform and receive feedback from Music Faculty. All musicians are welcome to participate*, and everyone is welcome to attend. The master-class will be followed by performances from the Advanced Music Performance class, a jam session with students, and a 30-minute closing set from one of the student bands from 7:00-8:30 PM. Food and some equipment will be provided.

*No need to be affiliated with the music program. Interested bands and musicans should email Assistant Professor Gilad Cohen at gcohen1@ramapo.edu. Space is limited; register early. Each act will present one piece of music of up to 6 minutes in any genre. One ensemble will be chosen in advance to play a 30-minute set at the end of the event.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC