Thursday, February 4 |
January 2010 - On first Thursday, February 4, Colored Pencils comes to the city's arts district in The Pearl to celebrate the first performances of the year.
The event, to be held at Portland Center Stage, is co-hosted by Kalakendra Limited Society for the Performing Arts of India. "New Portland" artists, musicians, poets and singers come together for an evening of great food, thought-provoking artwork and unforgettable performances. The event, which recently celebrated its first anniversary, draws hundreds of people each month, eager to share in the diverse cultures of Portland's growing newcomer communities.
Students from Dr. Nisha Joshi's Swaranjali Academy of Indian Music will perform a tabla solo, sitar accompanied by tabla and a group vocal performance. Dr. Nisha Joshi is a classical Hindustani vocalist and sitar musician born and raised in Rajastan, a province in northwest India.
Sitar player Rueben Lange has been studying music for over 10 years. He began his studies in grade school focusing on classical and jazz clarinet, working with prominent teachers in Minneapolis, MN such as Dr. Nina Olsen and Marlene Pauley (principal clarinetist for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra). During his career as a clarinetist Rueben has played with several groups including GTCY’s, the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony, woodwind chamber groups at MacPhail Center for the Performing Arts and held positions as principal clarinetist at Lewis & Clark College. In addition to clarinet, Rueben is also a well versed bluegrass musician, playing the banjo, mandolin and guitar. Most recently he began studying Sitar at Lewis & Clark College.
Kishan Patel, 16, is an amateur tabla player. Currently, he is a junior in high school, and is attending Union High School in Vancouver, WA. He has been playing the tabla since he was seven years old, and has shown pure dedication to the style of music and the instrument. His deep passion and interest for Indian music has driven him to add Indian music in his High School percussion ensemble. The volunteer-led event has been hosted at Portland City Hall, Portland State University, Center for Intercultural Organizing, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, and Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO).
Email coloredpencils.USA@gmail.com for more information.