Renowned award-winning percussionists/multi-instrumentalists Balla Kouyaté and Mamadou Diabaté’s new collaborative project makes the impossible possible! join us for an intimate small ensemble – the first performance of these new works.

Representing two powerhouse African balafon family legacies, this is the first time ever that the two differently tuned African balafons – one from Burkina Faso and one from Mali – are able to perform together in harmony. Kouyaté has built a special instrument so that the scales of the two instruments are no longer in dissonance, allowing the two virtuosos to compose and perform together in tandem. The high-energy and innovative musicianship of the two artists creates an uplighting and energetic audience experience. They are both highly skilled leaders of workshops for all ages, including at the University and Higher-Education level. The performances can be for as small as duo, or as large as a full band of 8-10 people, depending on budget and logistics.

Tuition – $150, or WCCMA enrolled students of multiple children from one household $100. Scholarships available

Learn from the internationally renowned balafon and percussion master Mamadou Diabate! No experience necessary, learn to play African instruments including the balafon, djembe, and other African percussion instruments.

Mamadou Diabate was born into a traditional musician family (Sambla people) in Burkina Faso (West Africa), with a long tradition of practising the profession of story telling and music making. At the age of 5 he started his professional training with his father Penegue Diabate, who in his days was considered the best balafon player far beyond the bordes of the sambla culture. At 8 he began with his apprenticeship years with renowned balafonists of neighboring peoples. In 1988 and 1998 he won the first prize of the “National Culture Week” of Burkina Faso. He currently lives in Austria. With his group Percussion Mania he won the Austrian World Music Award (2011) and the Grand Prix of the “Triangle du Balafon” Competition in Mali (2012). For his virtuosity, he was there also honored with the “Prix Alkaly Camara de la virtuosité”. www.mamadoudiabate.com