African Chamber Music Ensemble 

African Chamber Music Ensemble is an innovative musical initiative that reimagines African traditions through a classical lens, showcasing the continent’s rich and reflective sonic heritage in a chamber music setting. Moving beyond the familiar rhythms and dance-driven styles often associated with African music, this project brings ancient and soulful traditions to new audiences—while challenging and expanding the traditional role of the Western string quartet.

The repertoire includes evocative mbira songs from Zimbabwe’s Shona people and the intricate vocal music of Ghana’s Ewe community. Performed by master artists Kurai Mubaiwa (mbira, voice, percussion) and Kwashie Kuwor (master drummer and dancer), each piece is rooted in cultural authenticity and global artistry. Arrangements are by Curtis Andrews, a seasoned musician and ethnomusicologist with over two decades of experience studying and performing African music worldwide.

A skilled string quartet—featuring Meredith Bates (violin), Peggy Lee (cello), Parmela Attariwala (viola), and Joshua Zubot (violin)—collaborates to reframe the quartet tradition through a decolonial lens. The African Chamber Music Ensemble invites listeners into a deeper, more inclusive musical conversation—celebrating ancestral sounds, contemporary excellence, and the transformative power of cross-cultural collaboration.

– DS