Behind the scenes: A local music festival with the whole world in its hands
by Elysse Lindell
The Wisconsin Union Theater has always embraced the excitement of diversity in performance. The upcoming anniversary of the World Music Festival on September 19-21, will mark the tenth year of a tradition that has enriched the Madison community with variety, talent and entertainment. When this musical event was created, it came together in only three months of planning and showcased six outstanding artists with the help of the Chicago World Music Festival and the Lotus Festival in Bloomington, IN. The festival continues to flourish and impress in our community by bringing in new music and cultures each year.
This September, the festival will feature 11 acts in two locations, the Wisconsin Union Theater and the Willy Street Fair. Since 2007, the festival has expanded to the Willy Street Fair, further engaging the community in world cultures and music. To increase interest, artists who come to the festival take part in outreach events targeting students, musicians, dancers and various groups in the community.
Selecting the performers to showcase is quite the process. Esty Dinur, director of marketing and communications for the Wisconsin Theater, explained that she and a committee of community members, students and staff start looking at acts in January. According to Esty they “look for music from regions of the world that are not yet familiar in Madison, new genres, and new artists.” The committee strives for a balance of “upbeat/dance and quieter/contemplative [and] traditional vs. contemporary,” that would please both students and the community.
Once selections have been made, the planning committee attends a meeting with artistic directors from across the Midwest to create proposals for the musicians to tour in the United States. The committee works through various stipulations, including taxes and visas, which are required for performers to travel.
The full line-up for this year has not been publicly announced so there is built up anticipation to learn of the artists. Fortunately, however, the Madison World Music Festival Facebook page revealed a few performances that we can look forward to.
Christina Pato
One of the first performers announced was Galician bagpiper Cristina Pato from Spain. Cristina plays the Gaita (official name for a Galician bagpipe) and has collaborated with YoYo Ma, the Chieftains and the Chicago Symphony. Her energy and genuine passion have been applauded in the BBC and the New York Times.
Baladino
Another performer will be Baladino, a band that blends its Israeli, Spanish, Mediterranean, Turkish and Arabic influences. The leading lady, Yael Badash, sings in Ladino, an old Jewish tongue found traditionally in Spain. According to their website, the band’s goal is, “to bring to the audience a versatile [and] unique music journey that emphasizes the beautiful side of the Israeli melting pot.”
Christine Salem
The third artist is Christine Salem from Reunion Island. She blends the sounds of her ancestors’ cultures, which include African, French, Indian, Chinese, Portuguese and Malagasy influences.
In the midst of finalizing plans for the event, Esty said, “The main reward, of course, is having a great festival, bringing fantastic new artists to Madison, seeing the crowds enjoy, and knowing that we’re doing our little bit to bring the world to our own town.”
Thanks to the committee, the musicians and the generous donors, the Madison World Music Festival is able to toast to its tenth successful year. The community will celebrate the hard work put into the event by dancing away September 19th – 21st at Memorial Union Terrace and Willy Street!
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Elysse Lindell is a senior at UW-Madison studying Anthropology in the College of Letters and Sciences. As the Marketing and Communications Intern at the Wisconsin Union Theater, some of Elysse’s responsibilities include writing blog articles and press releases for Wisconsin Union Theater events, such as the Madison World Music Festival.
