QWANQWA

• Event Date: Thursday, September 15, 2022
• Time: 7:00 pm (CDT)
• Location: Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana, IL

• Performance

A Nick Rudd Music Experience concert.

On their 2022 U.S. Debut Tour, QWANQWA is an Addis Ababa based music ensemble featuring leading Ethiopian artists including extraordinary Azmari singer Selamnesh Zemene with virtuoso musicians Endres Hassen (mesenko), Misale Leggesse (kebero), and Bubu Teklemariam (bass krar) who perform on traditional instruments. QWANQWA was established in 2012 by American violinist Kaethe Hostetter, who first worked in Ethiopian music as a founding member of critically acclaimed Debo Band.

This Nick Rudd Music Experience concert is supported by the Robert E. Brown Center for World Music, Spurlock Museum, School of Music, Center for African Studies, and College of Fine and Applied Arts.

Other QWANQWA events

Road to QWANQWA—establishing an all-star music ensemble in Addis Ababa

• Event Date: Wednesday, September 14
• Time: 12:00–1:00 pm Center for African Studies Brown Bag Talk
• Location: Spurlock Museum Knight Auditorium and online with registration (external link)

Kaethe Hostetter, along with band members Endris Hassen, Bubu Teklemariam, Selamnesh Zemene, and Misale Legesse, share the journey towards forming the Addis Ababa-based super group QWANQWA,

Gateways to World Music: QWANQWA

• Event Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2022
• Time: 7:30 pm
• Location: Music Building Auditorium

Members of the Ethiopian ensemble QWANQWA will introduce the instruments, music and dance featured in their performances and recordings. This lecture / demonstration is presented by the Robert E. Brown Center for World Music, with co-sponsoring support from Center for African Studies, Spurlock Museum, School of Music, and College of Fine and Applied Arts.