Arts Midwest World Fest

By Ken Carlson, Senior Program Director

A month ago, the Unni Boksasp Ensemble began its tour with a great week in Sterling, IL. The tour included warm connections and happy stories along the way and Flint provided still more.

Monday included a visit and workshop with students at Gear-Up Alternative High School. ABC News 12 paid a visit to cover Unni’s visit.

By Ken Carlson, Senior Program Director

Unni and her ensemble rolled into beautiful Marietta, Ohio located on the banks of the Ohio River. It’s always nice when the ensemble has a chance to enjoy aspects of the community. Unni had time to take in the view at the river one sunny afternoon.

By Ken Carlson, Senior Program Director

Welcome receptions are a small part of each residency week but they can do so much to set the tone and get the week off to a good start. Such was the case in Corydon, Indiana. It seems the Unni Boksasp Ensemble could not have felt any more at home in Norway than the members did in Corydon.

By Ken Carlson, Senior Program Director

Unni, Mattis, Kenneth and Fridtjof arrived in Chicago on April 6 and Mia, who went to heroic effort to overcome visa tangles, arrived a day later. We took some time to rest and enjoy a little sliver of Chicago before arriving in Sterling.

By Luke Rivard, Program Associate

The Unni Boksasp Ensemble from Norway has arrived! Well, most of the ensemble that is. Mia Marin, the fiddler in the group, was forced to depart a day later than planned due to visa problems. She’s here now and we are very relieved to have overcome the visa issues. The group flew into Chicago and made its way to Sterling, Illinois where they will have their first of four upcoming week-long residencies.

By Shigeyo Henriquez

A severe blizzard was on it’s way, we were warned! We finished the concert early Sunday evening of March 8th in Pierre, ND, so we decided to drive all the way to Dickinson, ND. We drove in the dark through heavy fogs and rain and reached the parking lot of Ramada Grand Dakota past midnight. Ken Carlson was very worried. We kept in touch with him until we reached the destination. The blizzard didn’t hit Dickinson until the next day on Monday afternoon. We finished the workshop at Trinity High School as scheduled on Monday. Then the blizzard hit.

By Shigeyo Henriquez

The distance from Prairie du Chien, WI to Pierre, SD is 530 miles. We split into two days of driving. We arrived in Pierre, SD in the early afternoon on Monday. Barb Wood, the President of Short Grass Arts Council, met us at the hotel lobby and led us to Northridge Plaza mall. We brought a few taiko drums and set up in the walk way of the mall. Tony Mangan introduced the Mayors of Pierre and Fort Pierre, local sponsors, and Short Grass Arts Council. Matsuda started playing “Amazing Grace” with his shakuhachi.

By Shigeyo Henriquez

A short drive from Dubuque we arrived in Prairie du Chien Sunday afternoon. After we settled into the hotel we drove to Cafe Hope (a place I will visit often this week) a few blocks away for a welcome reception. Christine Panka, Terri Connell, Mayor Dave Hemmer, School board and community members waited for us. I was here in Prairie du Chien last fall with Manhu Chinese ensemble and am very familiar with every one as a result. Christine arranged for two high school students to play flute and clarinet accompanied by piano as a welcome for us all. What a pleasant way to start the week.

By Shigeyo Henriquez

On the first workshop day in Dubuque, Dennis Williams, board member of Dubuque Arts Council, led us to Seton Elementary School. K-5th grade students entered the gym and sat on the gym floor quietly. Catherine explained the workshop and how loud Taiko could be, and then Yoshi banged the smaller taiko drum once. The students screamed “Whoa!” Catherine continued, “It’s OK to cover your ears. You can still hear it with your body.” Some of them cover their ears right away, but as the workshop went on they were so engaged and no longer covered their ears.

By Shigeyo Henriquez

Ondekoza arrived Thursday Feb 1st, Super Bowl weekend and the Minnesota/St Paul Airport was bustling. Ken Carlson waited for us in the cell parking lot. As Ondekoza members came through the US customs, Ken drove up and we shoved the luggage into the van and drove directly to Red Wing where we would spend our first week of residency. A beautiful mansion built in 1915, the Anderson Arts Center House, is our home for the week. We loved the house, a big kitchen, traditional living and formal dining room.