World music is more than sound; it's a bridge between cultures. Soaring above local or national traditions, it collects people globally and forges marvelous unity from the world’s musical diversity. How? Hartt School professor Mehmet Dede introduces global rhythms and traditions from South America to the Balkans, from India to North and West Africa, showing how they promote communication and foster belonging. Dede—artistic director of the Manhattan World Music venue Drom and the curator of the New York Gypsy Festival—will spend Session 1 exploring how World Music builds diverse local communities, and Session 2 looking at how social entrepreneurship at small music and arts venues informs and connects people.
Mehmet Dede is associate professor of music and performing arts management at The Hartt School, and an internationally recognized, award-winning music curator, festival producer and tour promoter with over 20 years of experience producing events that contribute to international music's growing presence in the US. He has collaborated with seminal American institutions such as Lincoln Center, Central Park SummerStage, the Town Hall, the Kennedy Center, and has served for many years as artistic director at the Manhattan World Music venue Drom, and as co-founder and curator of the New York Gypsy Festival. Dede conducts workshops for artists and managers in the US and abroad and received the 2021 globalFEST Impact Award for his curatorial work. He serves on the board of the Music & Entertainment Industry Educators Association (MEIEA), and is also an alumnus of Leadership Music in Nashville, a member of the Recording Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London.
Mondays, Oct. 27, and Nov. 3 | 2 p.m.–3:30 p.m. | KF Room/Harrison Libraries | $40
Made possible in part by the generosity of the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.
Brought to you by the Presidents' College, where we connect the curious through lifelong learning.
For other stimulating Presidents' College offerings, see our printable PDF.
Faculty and staff are eligible to take one Presidents' College lecture for free every semester, or to receive a one-session discount ($20) for a longer course. Contact us at pcollege@hartford.edu or 860.768.4495.
Our snazzy Presidents’ College Gift Certificates are also ready for purchase. Giving the gift of knowledge is a great way to celebrate birthdays and un-birthdays in style while inviting friends and family into the Presidents' College circle.