11th Annual
October 21, 2023
7:30 PM
MacArthur Recital Hall
Flint Institute of Music
Email ashleymusser@flintfed.org or call 810 767 5922 for questions.
Tickets
only $10 at the door!
Made possible by a generous grant from the Nartel Family Foundation.
North Oakland Dixieland Band
To kick off the 11th season the festival will feature another all-American, home-grown style of music, Dixieland! The North Oakland Dixieland Band specializes in the traditional sound of Dixie and both “Traditional Jazz” and Swing music from the years 1900 to 1960.
Dixieland jazz is also called traditional jazz, hot jazz, or simply Dixieland. It’s a style of jazz based on the music that developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century with artists like Jelly Roll Morton and the remarkable Louis Armstrong.
The North Oakland Dixieland Band comprises a four-horn front line with Clarinet, Cornet, Tenor Sax, and Trombone, and our rhythm section with Piano, Tuba, Banjo, Guitar, and Drums.
This combination, plus the musician’s ability to play more than one instrument lets the band perform many styles of music and vocals from the Traditional Jazz era.
Sheldon and Hadar
An indie pop-folk songwriter supergroup comprised of Sheldon Low on vocals and guitar and his wife and partner, Hadar Orshalimy on piano and vocals. Drawing comparisons at times to Nickel Creek, and Mumford and Sons, their sound is tight harmonies, deeply honest lyrics, melodic hooks, and unadulterated authenticity.
Sheldon is also a Jewish educator and his recordings have been featured in numerous compilation albums. Both of his children’s albums, “It’s All Challah To Me” and “Look At Me”, have been distributed to tens of thousands of households around the globe. Sheldon is the Artist in Residence of Temple Israel of the City of New York.
Hadar’s first album, “It Never Was You” is her look at Jewish Composers. Hadar is shining a new light on the enormous contribution made by Jewish composers to the distinctly American invention of jazz and the Great American Songbook. Spanning the works of Gershwin to Hammerstein.
Sheldon was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and is the son of Flint Jewish Federation Director Steven and his wife Susan Low. Hadar and Sheldon live in New York with their daughter.
Canja de Boa
Canja de Boa brings Brazillian Jazz and the famous Brazilian Samba to the 11th Humanity in Harmony Concert.
The musicians are all from Flint and the Metro Detroit area. Like the ingredients of any “good soup” (which is literally the translation of “canja de boa”), each member contributes their own musical flavor to produce CANJA de BOA’s unique sonic concoction, blending styles that range from samba to bossa nova to jazz, R&B, and pop.
The group’s leader, Kyle Canjar, works with the Flint School of the Performing Arts and is the Jazz Band director at Kettering University. CANJA de BOA features Flint’s Pia Broden Williams (vocals), Michelle Ureña (sax and flute), and Gordon Krupsky (percussion).
Their laid back, fun, and summery vibe hits a high note for audiences of all ages and at a variety of venues, be it the Flint Institute of Arts’ Palette Café Patio, the Detroit Club, or Cliff Bell’s. Since October 2021, CANJA de BOA has been the weekly house band at Fogo de Chão in Troy, MI.
Dort Honors String Trio
It has become a tradition for the Dort Honors String Trio, from the Flint School of the Performing Arts, to open our program.
High School musicians from all over mid-Michigan audition every October to be a member of this most prestigious group. The Dort Trio, under the direction of Alesia Byrd Johnson, gives a number of high-profile performances each year plus a spring recital and their appearance at the Humanity in Harmony Concert/Daniel Pearl World Music Day.
This year’s trio; Lillian Gagnon, violin, Carlie Tate, viola, Braeden Dixner, cello.
Michael is a broadcaster, author, program planner and host. He created, produced, and wrote “The Huckleberry Radio Hour” a live radio variety show that ran from 2007-20011 and won 2 EMMYS. He was a television news anchor for ABC, was a host on Michigan Public Television, was a disc jockey and radio talk show and newsman on stations featuring country music, rock, oldies and even album rock.
Michael J. is currently host of, “The Peaceful Warriors Project” a look at the service of veterans after they come home. He earned his fourth EMMY for the series, “Capital Memories” a look back at the historic Capital Theater in downtown Flint in 40 episodes.
Michael’s books include, “The Great, Great Lakes Trivia Test” and “The (even) Greater, Great Lakes Trivia Test.” His third book, “Michigan’s Thumb Drive”, is a history and tour of Michigan’s Thumb. He also wrote a children’s book; “The Legend of the Abominable Huckleberry.”
His latest book, “Michiganians You Should Know” includes stories about a Michigan priest who worked at a prison guarding the Jessie James Gang, the Michigan natives who invented the electric stove and the rear-view mirror, the brothers who first called soda, “pop” and the man who almost drained one of Michigan’s most beautiful lakes
All books are available at michaeljthorp.com.
Michael is an Eagle Scout, and longtime Scout volunteer, a member of the Davison High School Hall of Fame, and a Distinguished Alumni of both the University of Michigan Flint and Mott Community College.