Kora virtuoso Sona Jobarteh performs live
Date/Time
Location
Williams College (880 Main St., Williamstown, MA 01267, Williamstown MA)
Sona Jobarteh, the first professional female Kora virtuoso to come from any of the West African Griot lineages, has won international recognition for her skill as an instrumentalist, her distinctive voice, infectious melodies and her grace onstage.
She comes from a deeply rooted line of musicians, including her grandfather, Amadu Bansang Jobarteh and her cousin, the legendary Toumani Diabaté. This free event is open to all, in Chapin Hall on the Williams College campus.
The demand for Sona Jobarteh’s live performances has rocket in recent years, and 2019 saw her perform at some of the world’s most renowned festivals and venues such as the Hollywood Bowl in LA, WOMAD in Australia and New Zealand and Symphony Space in New York City, whilst also performing all over Europe, in China, Africa and Canada.
Sona has the unique ability to touch audiences from all over the world and from all backgrounds and cultures, whilst also commanding the attention of sitting presidents and royalty alike. Her captivating stage show has proved to be popular everywhere, and with a repertoire that exudes accessible sophistication, her audience demographic is forever expanding.
As a vocalist, Sona has appeared in award-winning films such as the Hollywood movie Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and The First Grader – the latter winning the “Discovery of the Year” prize at the Hollywood World Soundtrack Awards in 2012.
The Williams College Department of Music presents this Visiting Artist Series event as part of the Ernest Brown Music Series. Sona Jobarteh and Band is presented by the Williams College Department of Music with the generous support of the W. Ford Schumann ’50 Performing Arts Endowment.