【時報訊】Gitana協會將於2009年10月17日週六正午至下午七點整，在Union Avenue基督教堂(即Union Avenue歌劇院所在地-733 Union Blvd.,聖路易）舉辦第一屆“聖路易世界宗教音樂節”。
作為一個非營利藝術和教育組織，Gitana協會致力於發展聖路易社區的音樂、舞蹈及戲劇領域，其執行理事Cecilia Nadal透露，這次才華橫溢的藝術家們所帶來的美妙音樂一定會讓觀眾們耳目一新。“每種文化都會創造出宗教音樂，世界宗教音樂節通過集合國際和當地音樂家體現出我們力求文化融合性的理念。”
此次活動的特約嘉賓中包括以下享有國際聲譽的音樂家們：
Imrat Khan,印度最著名的西塔爾琴和舒爾巴哈琴（重低音西塔爾琴）演奏家及教師，其培育的眾多學生中包括甲殼蟲樂隊的George Harrison和滾石樂隊的Brian Jones。由於當今西塔爾琴的演奏者已是屈指可數，作為此種音樂最主要的宣導者，Khan每年都會抽出部分時間在華盛頓聖路易大學教授印度古典音樂，指導西塔爾琴學習者。
來自拉科塔部落的John Two Hawks是一位土生土長的橫笛演奏者、歌唱家以及音樂家，其獲白金獎的代表作曾被多家電影、CD和視頻精選收集，而他本人也曾在世界各地演出。Two Hawks會演奏多種樂器，其演奏美國土著長笛的技藝最為精湛。
Brother Seamus Byrne是一個Celtic基督教音樂的國際化作曲家和演奏者，此音樂以其對人精神的鼓舞和靈魂的洗滌而聞名。Byrne出生於愛爾蘭，居住於威克洛山旁的Servants of Love修道士社區內。他演奏傳統的愛爾蘭長笛和口哨，將那些古老的旋律演奏地悠遠而意寓深長。Byrne崇尚生活在西元前500-1000年間的愛爾蘭人民所具有的凱爾特精神，他通過其特有的吟唱和音樂技巧，將那個時代的早期原始智慧表現得令人振奮和沉醉。
Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya擅長一種幾百年來幾乎不為藝術圈外人士所知的佛教舞蹈，這種原始的儀式舞蹈最早可以追溯到1000年前，它曾被加德滿都神職人員用於舉行慶典及儀式活動。
Alerica Anderson身兼數職地擔任福音歌手、作詞、作曲、製片人和導演。他於12歲時開始在教堂裡演奏音樂，隨後在密蘇裡-哥倫比亞大學學習爵士樂和音樂演奏，並且擔任該大學福音唱詩班的指揮。他曾與多位元俗樂和福音音樂的藝術家們同台演出，其中包括Edwin Hawkins、Walter Hawkins、David Peaston及Celine Dion。
親臨現場的音樂家們還將包括頌唱十二世紀本篤會歌曲的歌唱家Margaret Waddell；表演約魯巴非洲音樂的歌唱家Iya Ashabi；以及用優美抒情的合奏演繹美索不達米亞神話中Ningal與南娜女神（Nanna）的傳說的豎琴演奏家Amy Camie。
參加此次全日活動的票價為：成人15元/人，65歲以上老人及持學生證的學生12元/人，12歲以下的兒童8元/人。15或15人以上的團隊可以享受折扣優惠。 欲購票或瞭解更多資訊，請致電Gitana協會：（314）721-6556。購票地點還包括：Screenz Computer Center, 6680 Delmar Loop、 the Living Insights Center， 6361 Clayton Rd.以及the Everest Cafe and Bar，4145 Manchester Avenue。自2009年9月1日起，觀眾們便可訂購折扣門票。
Gitana協會衷心感謝地區藝術委員會、密蘇裡藝術顧問、中西部藝術聯盟、波音公司員工慈善基金會及國家基金會對於此次Gitana協會活動的大力支持。
Gitana協會是一個非營利藝術及教育組織，該組織致力於通過向聖路易社區引進國際音樂、舞蹈和戲劇而增進人們跨文化意識與合作。此次Gitana公司的活動通過一系列傳統與創新的表現方式展示了國際與本土藝術家的難得一見的多樣性。
Gitana presents St. Louis Festival of World Sacred Music
Gitana Productions will present the first "St. Louis Festival of World Sacred Music" on Saturday, October 17, 2009, from noon to 7:00 p.m. at the Union Avenue Christian Church, home of the Union Avenue Opera, at 733 Union Blvd., St. Louis.
"Prepare to be moved by the incredible music of these wonderfully gifted artists," said Cecilia Nadal, executive director of Gitana Productions, a not-for-profit arts and education group that nurtures global healing in the St. Louis community through music, dance and drama.
"Every culture creates music that is sacred, music that expresses universal emotions," Nadal said. "The Festival of World Sacred Music reflects our commitment to global healing, by bringing together international and local musicians who represent diverse spiritual and religious interests."
Guest artists include world-renowned musicians:Imrat Khan, India's foremost sitar and surbahar (bass sitar) musician and teacher, whose many students have included George Harrison of The Beatles and Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones. Surbahar players are rare today, and Imrat is the world's leading exponent of the art. Khan spends a portion of each year teaching classical Indian music and instructing sitar students at Washington University in St. Louis.
John Two Hawks of the Lakota nation, an indigenous flutist, singer and musician whose Platinum Award-winning work has been featured in dozens of movies, CDs and videos. Two-Hawks has traveled throughout the world as a performer. He plays dozens of instruments, but is best known as a virtuoso player of the Native American flute.
Brother Seamus Byrne is an international composer and performer of Celtic Christian music that is deeply inspiring and soul-nourishing. Born in Ireland, he lives a contemplative lifestyle with the Servants of Love monastic community near the Wicklow mountains. His plays traditional Irish flute, whistles and Bodhr芍n, and his melodic "old style" vocals are soothing and deeply inspiring. He has a passion for the Celtic spirit of the people who lived in Ireland from 500 to 1,000 AD. The primitive, ancient wisdom of that era comes across in his style of singing and musicianship, which is enthralling and uplifting.
Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya practices a sacred Buddhist dance that, for hundreds of years, has been virtually unknown outside the circles of those who perform it. This ancient ritual dance dates back more than 1,000 years and is a religious discipline of the priests of Kathmandu, who perform the dance as part of their esoteric meditation practices, ceremonies and rituals.
Alerica Anderson is a gospel singer, songwriter, composer, producer and director. He began playing in churches at the age of twelve, studied jazz and music performance at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and directed the university's gospel choir. He has performed with both secular and gospel artists including Edwin Hawkins, Walter Hawkins, David Peaston, and Celine Dion.
Other musicians include vocalist Margaret Waddell, who will perform 12th century Benedictine chants; vocalist Iya Ashabi, who will perform a Yoruba-derived African musical ceremony; and harpist Amy Camie, who will provide a musical and lyrical interpretation of the Mesopotamian myth of Nanna and Ningal with her ensemble.
Tickets for the full-day festival are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors over 65 and students with ID, $8 for children 12 and under. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. For tickets or more information, call Gitana Productions at (314) 721-6556. Tickets also will be available at Screenz Computer Center, 6680 Delmar in the Loop; the Living Insights Center at 6361 Clayton Rd.; and the Everest Caf谷 and Bar at 4145 Manchester Avenue, where restaurant patrons can purchase discounted tickets beginning September 1, 2009.
The Regional Arts Commission, Missouri Arts Council, Midwest Arts Alliance, Boeing Employees Charitable Trust and the National Endowment have provided funding to support Gitana Productions events.
Gitana Productions, Inc. is a not-for-profit arts and education organization dedicated to increasing cross-cultural awareness and collaboration by bringing international music, dance and drama to the St. Louis community. Gitana events present a rarely seen diversity of international and local artists exhibiting an array of traditional and innovative artistic expressions. For more information, visit www.gitana-inc.org or call Gitana Productions at (314) 721-6556.
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