CWM Residency: Afro-Brazilian Percussion & Pedagogy

In collaboration with the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures, the UIUC School of Music, and Lemann Institute for Brazilian Studies, the center welcomes guest artist Juliana Cantarelli Vita to campus for a weeklong residency, Monday, March 25 - Saturday, March 30th, 2019.

Ms. Cantarelli is a Brazilian music educator and doctoral student at the University of Washington, pursuing a PhD in music education. Her work deals with a number of different Afro-Brazilian musical genres from the northeast region of Brazil, including maracatu, côco, ciranda, and others. Juliana’s research blends aspects of ethnomusicological and educational practice, exploring how processes of musical transmission differ in formal and nonformal settings, and the ways in which traditional learning practices can be applied in the classroom to improve learning outcomes in general music courses.

Born and raised in Recife, Brazil, Juliana began studying violin when she was eight years old at the Conservatório Pernambucano de Música. Growing up surrounded by the rich musical traditions of northeastern Brazil, she had opportunities to play in traditional ensembles that integrated string quartet with a folk Brazilian fiddle (rabeca).

Blending her interests in music education and ethnomusicology, Juliana has presented papers and given clinics at several national and international conferences in North America, South America, and Europe. As a researcher, she has published papers at Orff Echo (Winter 2017) and Perspectives: Journal of the Early Childhood Music & Movement Association (Volume 13:1, 2018). As a clinician, Juliana has given more than 50 workshops in the United States, Brazil, and Europe.

Part of CWM’s “Gateways to World Music series,” the residency will focus on Afro-Brazilian percussion genres including Maracatu de Baque Virado, as well as others from Brazil’s northeast region, making this music accessible to a general audience. Ms. Cantarelli will share her expertise as a practitioner of these genres, and as a music educator with experience working with children and adults. She will present workshops to elementary school classes throughout the week, as well as two public programs on Saturday, March 30th.

Saturday programs will include an interactive masterclass on Afro-Brazilian percussion styles from 11am-1pm in the Music Building "Fishbowl" (room 0359), followed by a lecture-recital that evening, at 7pm at the Spurlock Museum's Knight Auditorium. For more information about these events, please see the Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/579354499247928/

Both events will focus on musical genres from Juliana’s home state of Pernambuco, including Maracatu de Baque Virado among others. Masterclass participants are cordially invited to return for the evening lecture-recital as performers, although this is optional and not required. 

For more information about our guest artist, see her professional instagram page here:
https://www.instagram.com/ju.cantarelli/