An invitation to participate in stories told, sung, and danced from a culturally rich area of East Africa, "The Pearl of Africa": Uganda. Acoustic arrangements of traditional folk songs performed using authentic instrumentation: strings, flutes, and percussion. Audience participation is inevitable.
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Artist Information
Biography
Gideon Ampeire, born and raised in Uganda, is a graduate student in the ethnomusicology program at Wesleyan University, his the teacher and director of Echo Uganda. With an unending youthful energy, Gideon shares the music and dance of his homeland with any and all who will listen, appreciate, and participate. In the relatively short time since his move to the U.S., he has established a performing group of primarily Americans. Lured by his innocent magnetism, Gideon has taught each member how to play the instruments from Uganda, the melodic progressions of the songs, the vocal arrangements and pronunciation of the . Ugandan languages, and the stories and dances which accompany each song.
The ease with which this occurred, and the strong respectful rapport the band mates share with one another, allowed for the creation of a very special group sharing a singularly important experience.
Gideon has performed internationally, prior to his move to the States, in France, Spain, and Canada. Echo Uganda thus far, has been primarily based in the North Eastern U.S., however they have performed for a vast array of audiences, including multiple dates for United Nations events; the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the UN, and an invitation to play for the inauguration of Hellen Grace Akwii-Wangusa, Anglican Observer and Special Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the United Nations, at Trinity Church, New York City, NY on 02/02/07.
The band has donated much of its time and energy to raise awareness and funds to help benefit the children and families of Uganda and other places who are in need of assistance.
Press Reviews
Uganda Calling at the Festival "...'In Uganda, they don't distinguish between the audience and the performers'....This makes it the perfect entertainment for the street festival since often the audience and the musicians become one under the spell of the music..."
Musician Gets Students Involved in African Culture
Willimantic Chronicle
Instrumentation
Gideon Ampeire: Vocals, Solo Adungu, Endingidi, Enanga, Endere, Enkwanzi, Ugandan Drums: Embuutu, Enpunyi, Engalabi, Namunjoloba
Elena Ampeire: Amadinda, vocals
Jessica Lennington: Solo Adungu, vocals
David Magnuson: Medium Adungu
Kynoch Reale-Munroe: Adungu
Mark Giangrave: Bass Adungu
Tara Kurland: Endingidi
Chris Demorit: Drums
Suzie Barb: Drums
Bernard Castillo: Percussion, flutes
Kristin Fortier: Vocals, percussion
Mariclare Cole: Vocals
Discography
Echo Uganda's first studio release came out in January '08. Their self-titled CD is recorded, mixed, and mastered by grammy-award-winning engineer Michael Hopkins of Ascension Studios, and he did a masterful job to record 11 musicians playing acoustic instruments.
Songs from this recording have received airplay on 90.1 WECS in Willimantic, CT and on 91.7 WHUS at the University of CT.
Biography
Gideon Ampeire, born and raised in Uganda, is a graduate student in the ethnomusicology program at Wesleyan University, his the teacher and director of Echo Uganda. With an unending youthful energy, Gideon shares the music and dance of his homeland with any and all who will listen, appreciate, and participate. In the relatively short time since his move to the U.S., he has established a performing group of primarily Americans. Lured by his innocent magnetism, Gideon has taught each member how to play the instruments from Uganda, the melodic progressions of the songs, the vocal arrangements and pronunciation of the . Ugandan languages, and the stories and dances which accompany each song.
The ease with which this occurred, and the strong respectful rapport the band mates share with one another, allowed for the creation of a very special group sharing a singularly important experience.
Gideon has performed internationally, prior to his move to the States, in France, Spain, and Canada. Echo Uganda thus far, has been primarily based in the North Eastern U.S., however they have performed for a vast array of audiences, including multiple dates for United Nations events; the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the UN, and an invitation to play for the inauguration of Hellen Grace Akwii-Wangusa, Anglican Observer and Special Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the United Nations, at Trinity Church, New York City, NY on 02/02/07.
The band has donated much of its time and energy to raise awareness and funds to help benefit the children and families of Uganda and other places who are in need of assistance.
Press Reviews
Uganda Calling at the Festival "...'In Uganda, they don't distinguish between the audience and the performers'....This makes it the perfect entertainment for the street festival since often the audience and the musicians become one under the spell of the music..."
Musician Gets Students Involved in African Culture
Willimantic Chronicle
Instrumentation
Gideon Ampeire: Vocals, Solo Adungu, Endingidi, Enanga, Endere, Enkwanzi, Ugandan Drums: Embuutu, Enpunyi, Engalabi, Namunjoloba
Elena Ampeire: Amadinda, vocals
Jessica Lennington: Solo Adungu, vocals
David Magnuson: Medium Adungu
Kynoch Reale-Munroe: Adungu
Mark Giangrave: Bass Adungu
Tara Kurland: Endingidi
Chris Demorit: Drums
Suzie Barb: Drums
Bernard Castillo: Percussion, flutes
Kristin Fortier: Vocals, percussion
Mariclare Cole: Vocals
Discography
Echo Uganda's first studio release came out in January '08. Their self-titled CD is recorded, mixed, and mastered by grammy-award-winning engineer Michael Hopkins of Ascension Studios, and he did a masterful job to record 11 musicians playing acoustic instruments.
Songs from this recording have received airplay on 90.1 WECS in Willimantic, CT and on 91.7 WHUS at the University of CT.
Setlist
All songs played are traditional Ugandan folk songs in which stories and historical events were documented and passed through generations. Lyrics are in varying languages. Echo Uganda performances range situationally from a few songs to 90 minutes.
All songs played are traditional Ugandan folk songs in which stories and historical events were documented and passed through generations. Lyrics are in varying languages. Echo Uganda performances range situationally from a few songs to 90 minutes.
Basic Requirements
Echo Uganda is highly adaptable to venue/stage size. They expand to fill the area or shrink-to-fit. If fewer members are required due to small stage size, then a smaller group can perform, right down to Gideon playing solo. We travel with our clip-on mics for the strings, which connect to XLR cables. Gideon has a wireless setup for vocals (phantom power needed). Otherwise, our maximum requirement would be 4 vocal mics and 9 instrument mics w/ boom stands. A sub-woofer for the bass would be icing.
Echo Uganda is highly adaptable to venue/stage size. They expand to fill the area or shrink-to-fit. If fewer members are required due to small stage size, then a smaller group can perform, right down to Gideon playing solo. We travel with our clip-on mics for the strings, which connect to XLR cables. Gideon has a wireless setup for vocals (phantom power needed). Otherwise, our maximum requirement would be 4 vocal mics and 9 instrument mics w/ boom stands. A sub-woofer for the bass would be icing.