Don’t miss the chance to catch three incredible artists as they tour the Midwest this fall as part of World Fest! World Fest offers Midwestern communities, especially smaller and mid-size communities, an opportunity to experience music, language, and culture from across the world.
In Fall 2024, Farah Siraj, LADAMA, and A Moving Sound will tour across the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Michigan, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Ensembles will spend one week in each community to share their music and culture through school workshops, masterclasses, and concerts.
Join in the fun at a public concert celebration at the end of the week!
| Ensemble | Community | Community Partner | Residency Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farah Siraj | Portsmouth, OH | Vern Riffe Center for the Arts | September 8–14, 2024 |
| Farah Siraj | Albion, MI | Bohm Theatre | September 15–21, 2024 |
| Farah Siraj | Sullivan, IN | City of Sullivan | September 22–28, 2024 |
| LADAMA | Marinette, WI | Rusty Wolfe Studio | September 15–21, 2024 |
| LADAMA | Freeport, IL | Freeport Art Museum | September 22–28, 2024 |
| LADAMA | Oskaloosa, IA | George Daily Auditorium | September 29–October 5, 2024 |
| A Moving Sound | Minot, ND | Minot Area Council of the Arts | October 6–12, 2024 |
| A Moving Sound | Custer, SD | Custer Area Arts Council | October 13–19, 2024 |
| A Moving Sound | Fairmont, MN | Fairmont Opera House | October 20–26, 2024 |
Meet the Artists
Learn more about our current World Fest ensembles, through interviews with the groups themselves.
Ahead of her upcoming tours, Farah Siraj answered some questions about her hopes for her upcoming residencies—read more below.
Ahead of their upcoming tours, LADAMA answered some questions about their hopes for their upcoming residencies—read more below
Ahead of their upcoming tours, A Moving Sound answered some questions about their hopes for their upcoming residencies—read more below
Farah Siraj
Named Jordan’s Musical Ambassadress, Farah Siraj balances a career that spans the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, having performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including the United Nations, Nobel Prize Hall, World Economic Forum, and Lincoln Center. As a humanitarian, Farah focuses on raising awareness about the consequences of war and violence, and advocates for women’s rights, refugee rights and animal rights.
Learn more about Farah Siraj
LADAMA
LADAMA is an ensemble of female musicians from across the Americas who write and arrange original music influenced by music from their respective countries, Colombia, Brazil, and Venezuela, to create a unique sound with universal appeal. As well as performing as a touring band, LADAMA strives to engage youth in their respective communities in the process of music-making, composition and audio production through collaboration and performance workshops celebrating cultural exchange as a source for creativity. With rhythm and percussion driving their original compositions sung in Spanish, Portuguese and English they combine disparate, traditional roots music with pop.
Learn more about LADAMA
A Moving Sound
Fusing traditional influences with a global sensibility, award winning ensemble A Moving Sound (Sheng Don聲動) from Taiwan, built a worldwide following through their joyous mix of original music and dance. Featuring the distinctive timbres of the erhu (Taiwanese fiddle) and zhong ruan (lute), and the transcendent vocals of Mia Hsieh, A Moving Sound has devised a unique and compelling style that is all their own – a Taiwanese whirlwind that veers between the meditative and the exuberant with irrepressible spirit.
Learn more about A Moving Sound
A program of Arts Midwest, the 2024–2025 World Fest artist tours are generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Arts Midwest is also generously supported by the Illinois Arts Council Agency, Indiana Arts Commission, Iowa Arts Council, Michigan Arts and Culture Council, Minnesota State Arts Board, North Dakota Council on the Arts, Ohio Arts Council, South Dakota Arts Council, Wisconsin Arts Board, 3M, and individual donors and partners.