Hovia Edwards, Native American Flute

 

 

Bios

 

 

Radmilla Cody, Singer, Story Teller

Radmilla Cody is a GRAMMY Nominee, NPR’s 50 Great Voices, multiple Native American Music Awards Nominee, international performer, a former Miss Navajo Nation, and the founder of the “Strong Spirit: Life is Beautiful not Abusive” campaign which brings awareness to teen dating violence. Her music and advocacy work has been a form of resistance against multiple colonial forces such as patriarchy, anti-blackness and anti-indigeneity. Radmilla was awarded the “Black History Makers Award 2012” from Initiative Radio and was selected as the first Native American awards presenter at the 55th GRAMMY Pre-Telecast Awards Ceremony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hovia Edwards, Native American Flute

Hovia Edwards is from the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, Fort Hall, Idaho. She is the daughter of Herman Edwards and Nancy Nacki. Her paternal heritage is of the Okanagan-Similkameen band of Keremeos, British Columbia, Canada. Her maternal heritage is of the Shoshone tribe of Fort Hall, Idaho, and the Navajo Nation of Red Mesa, Arizona. Hovia has natural talent for music, especially the Native American flute. Some people ask how her name came to be. The word “Hovia” (Who-vee-ah) is the Shoshone word for “song” or” music.” Hovia’s songs consist of her own compositions, as well as traditional songs that she enjoys playing for people that have special meaning to her and to others. Hovia was honored to represent the Goshute Tribe of Utah in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, as a flutist in the opening ceremonies. It was an awesome event always to be remembered by everyone who was there, and those who watched it on television around the world. Hovia’s most recent project consists of working with the Opera Theater of Oregon on a new opera, Nu Na-Hup: Sacajawea’s Story, which tells the story of Sacajawea through an Indigenous perspective. On May 13-14, 2023, was a premier of the Prelude and a 35-minute scene of this work, alongside excerpts of orchestral music, opera singing, soundscapes, and presentations of traditional Shoshone music, language, and culture by Hovia and Rose Ann Abrahamson. Nu Nah-Hup (Scene at the Great Water) was chosen for inclusion in West Edge Opera 2024 Snapshot program at Hillside Club in Berkley, CA on Saturday, March 2nd, 7 PM and Taube Atrium Theater in San Franciso, CA on Sunday, March 3rd, 3PM. Hovia is honored to be part of this exciting project.

 

 

 

 

Wayne Silas Jr. Singer, Drummer, Dancer

Wayne Silas Jr, an Indigenous singer/dancer/performer of the Menominee and Oneida Nations of Wisconsin resides with his family in Oneida, Wisconsin. Wayne has been singing and dancing as well as expressing his Native culture since he could walk and talk. Growing up within the Chicagoland Native Community, he thrived to sing and dance for the people frequently and loved every aspect of his experiences. Wayne attended college at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. It is there that he began to embark on his journey as a professional performer. In 1997 Wayne co-founded the successful Powwow Drum group known as Tha Tribe and has led them to many adventures throughout the world sharing the music as only they could do. Tha Tribe has several albums released since 1999. Wayne has also released many solo albums since the early 2000's. Both Tha Tribe and Wayne Silas Jr have been fortunate enough to be blessed with many awards including 2 Grammys and several Nammys (Native American Music Awards). Wayne is extremely grateful to be involved with the Indigenous Soundscape in Motion performance and is always happy to continue his life work as a performer for the people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rolando Morales Matos, Vibraphone, Percussionist & Composer/arranger

Multi-faceted percussionist, Rolando Morales-Matos, is a most sought-after Broadway, Latin, Jazz, and Classical musician. He has toured worldwide performing at major jazz festivals and venues as a
percussionist of Ron Carter’s Foursight Quartet, Ron Carter’s Nonnet, as well as appearing with artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, John Legend, Alice Cooper, Dave Samuels, Dave Valentine, Willie Colon, amongst others. Rolando has recorded with Ron Carter, Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, Birdland Big Band, as well as numerous film soundtracks, jingles and classical works. In 2006, Rolando was the recipient of Drum Magazine’s World Beat Percussionist of the Year Award. Since 1997, he has been the Percussionist and Assistant Conductor of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, The Lion King.
Rolando has developed unique vocabularies of playing melodies on non-pitched percussion instruments. His published works include numerous compositions for classical percussion ensembles and the textbook “Techniques and Basic Patterns for Congas, Timbales, and Bongos”. In 2008, Rolando released his solo album “From The Earth” featuring the Hang Drum as well as his Latin Jazz group’s debut album “Forward”. Also as an accomplished classical musician, Rolando performs with The Philadelphia Orchestra and The New York Philharmonic as an extra percussionist. Previously, he was the Principal
Percussionist of Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia in Spain, the Guest Principal Timpanist of New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and performed with Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra and Pittsburgh Symphony while he was busy touring worldwide with many salsa and popular artists from Latin America including Willie Colon, Eddie Santiago, Jerry Rivera, among others.
Rolando Morales-Matos is a faculty member at Curtis Institute of Music, Temple University, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, New Jersey City University and gives clinics and master classes at many universities, conservatories and Percussive Arts Society International
Conventions. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Percussionist Rolando Morales-Matos began his musical studies at the prestigious high school for the performing arts, Escuela Libre de Música and started touring with popular artists at the age of 15. He moved to the States and received his Bachelor’s degree in Classical Percussion Performance from Carnegie Mellon University, Master’s degree from Duquesne University, and Certificate of Professional Studies from Temple University. Rolando Morales-Matos endorses Pearl Drums, Zildjian cymbals, and Evans drumheads.

 

 

Udi Bar-David, Cello, Philadelphia Orchestra

Udi Bar-David, an American Israeli cellist is widely considered one of the most versatile cellists in the world today. Udi has enjoyed performing on international stages with both classical and ethnic musicians from all over the world.

Udi holds a degree from the Juilliard School and studied orchestral conducting at the Curtis Institute of Music. He is a cellist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and has performed chamber music concerts with Christoph Eschenbach, Leon Fleisher, Jaime Laredo, Rudolph Buchbinder, Emanuel Ax and others. He was the founder, president, and artistic director of Intercultural Journeys & ARTolerance and is committed to the pursue of co-existence and peace through the arts.

Udi has toured Europe, Palestine, Israel, Asia, and across the United States with world-renowned artists, including Jie Bing Chen, Nawang Khechog, Hanna Khoury, Wu Man, Diane Monroe, R. Carlos Nakai, Kareem Roustom, Mandy Patinkin, and Simon Shaheen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indigenous Enterprise

Dominic Pablo

Jamaal Jones

Nanabah Kadenhii

Indigenous Enterprise is proud to represent a diverse range of tribes and nations through the rich and vibrant traditions of their powwow way of life. Their highly skilled and accomplished dancers and singers hail from various parts of the United States and Canada, bringing a deep sense of cultural pride and excellence to everything they do.

 

Through their world-class performances, they strive to showcase the beauty and power of Indigenous culture, inspiring and uplifting audiences around the world with their dynamic and innovative approach. Their team of champion dancers and singers are dedicated to delivering the highest level of service to businesses, organizations, and events, providing a well-deserved and unforgettable experience for all who witness their performances.

As a leading voice in the Indigenous performance community, they have earned widespread recognition and acclaim for our exceptional talent, skill, and cultural pride. With a commitment to excellence and a deep passion for advancing Indigenous culture and heritage, they continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, inspiring and uplifting audiences around the world with their dynamic and innovative approach.

To learn more about the Indigenous Enterprise and their work please visit their website

Indigenous Enterprise

 

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Artist Liaison and Event Promoter

Kathy Wilhelm-Norris