About.The mission of Tunaweza Kimuziki is to reinforce the importance of organic music-making by encouraging music teachers and students to pursue their musical studies.
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Our HistoryIn March 2012, three musicians from Indiana University and one from Kenyatta University led the inaugural session of Tunaweza Kimuziki.
In May 2013, five musicians from Indiana University and The College of Wooster rejoined their counterparts in Kenya for a workshop, where the team taught and performed at venues including the Administration Police Band Academy, Nairobi School, Utawala Academy, St. James Primary School, Kenyatta University, and Moi University. Tunaweza Kimuziki welcomed Kenyatta University Choir Taifa Mziki to Ohio and Indiana in February 2014, and returned to Kenya in May 2014. |
Our Goal1) To promote interactions between team members and music students,
2) To encourage Kenyan-US cultural exchange, and 3) To lay the groundwork for long-term community building among our constituent music, education, and service groups. |
Our Team
Kim Carballo
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Olivier Huebscher
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Ernest Patrick Monte
Dr. Monte holds a PhD in Music from Stellenbosch University in South Africa, a Masters in Music Education, and a Bachelor of Education Arts (music), both from Kenyatta University in Kenya. Currently, he is a lecturer at Kabarak University School of Music and Performing Arts, where he teaches courses in Music Theory and Music Education.
His research interests are in music and politics, music education, musicology, music history and cultural studies. His previous publications have appeared in journals such as South African Music Studies (SAMUS), Social Dynamics and Critical African Studies.
Dr. Monte is a member of the South African Society for Research in Music (SASRIM) as well as the British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA).
His research interests are in music and politics, music education, musicology, music history and cultural studies. His previous publications have appeared in journals such as South African Music Studies (SAMUS), Social Dynamics and Critical African Studies.
Dr. Monte is a member of the South African Society for Research in Music (SASRIM) as well as the British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA).
Cleniece Owino
Dr. Owino is a Lecturer in the Department of Music and Dance at Kenyatta University, Kenya where she has taught Music Education courses, recorder, and flute for the last twenty years. Her research interests are in Music Teacher Education and classroom teaching, with a particular interest in aural musicianship teaching in secondary schools and universities. She also supervises postgraduate students and is a member of the School of Visual and Performing Arts' academic, executive, and curriculum review boards.
Dr. Owino has participated in the NSS (North South South) MECI (Music, Education, Culture and Identity) Project, which was aimed at boosting cultural identities of music educators and teachers in Africa and Finland. Therein, she presented to staff and students in the Department of Music at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland. In 2017, Dr. Owino attended the African Scholars Program offered by Berklee College of Music (USA), where she both attended and observed classes, and audited online courses offered by the college. Dr. Owino is a children's choir director at Nairobi South SDA Church, and is currently involved in training potential choristers and choir directors with music theory and aural skills. She is a member of the Pan African Society for Musical Arts Education and International Society for Music Education (ISME). |
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Jon Peterson
Jon C. Peterson, D.M.A., serves as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Malone University. At Malone, Dr. Peterson conducts the University Chorale and Chamber Choir, and he teaches courses in choral music (including literature, methods and conducting) as well as coursework in music ministry.
Dr. Peterson received his doctoral and masters degrees in choral conducting with a doctoral minor in historical musicology from The University of Arizona and Southern Methodist University, respectively. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Austin College with an undergraduate degree in vocal performance. In addition to his passion for working with university students, his experience in music ministry has taken him to congregations of varying sizes and denominations in Texas, Arizona, Arkansas and Ohio. Dr. Peterson has prepared choirs for the Canton Symphony Orchestra, Tuscarawas Philharmonic, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Philander Smith College, the University of Arizona and Southern Methodist University and has sung with such respected choral organizations as the Dallas Symphony Chorus and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus. His recent research has focused on hymnology, world music, and Baroque oratorio; he has also contributed to GIA Publications' Teaching Music Through Performance in Middle School Choir, released in 2011. His article, “Faith and Learning in the Choral Rehearsal” will appear in Volume 48.2 of Christian Scholars Review. In addition to his faculty responsibilities at Malone, Dr. Peterson also serves as conductor for the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir. |
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Wilson Shitandi
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Jeffrey D. GershmanDr. Gershman serves as the Associate Director of Bands and an Associate Professor of Music at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he conducts the Symphonic Band and teaches courses in undergraduate music education and repertoire and graduate conducting. Previously, he served as the Director of Instrumental Activities at Texas A&M University-Commerce. In constant demand as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States, Singapore, Australia, and Africa, Dr. Gershman holds degrees from Indiana University and The University of Texas at Austin.
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Photo Courtesy of Indiana University.
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Diana Smith Nixon
Founding Member
Dr. Nixon is a performer, teacher, and scholar. She has performed in several orchestras, has soloed with David Baker’s big band at Indiana University, and is a regular guest artist at the Honeywell House, having played there with Dean Emeritus Charles Webb. As a teacher, she brings over twenty years of private music teaching experience to her students, including having taught at the DePauw University School of Music. She is an active clinician, giving performances and master classes at institutions at both pre-college and college levels, nationally and internationally. In addition to the United States, she has performed and given master classes in Costa Rica and Kenya. Recently, she was granted a Fulbright Specialist grant to promote the collaboration of leading U.S. academics and professionals with their counterparts overseas.
In addition to her musical talents, Dr. Nixon brings expertise in business, computer science, technology, and multimedia productions to the table; she earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Purdue University summa cum laude in 1987 and founded Catspaw Studios, a multimedia production company based in South Bend, Indiana, in 1993. She is certified in online teaching, and is a co-founder of the Nixon Room, a technological resource room in Wabash, Indiana. She teaches business computer courses at Ivy Tech Community College and has developed a hybrid in-person and online music school, Mpingo Studios (www.mpingostudios.com).
In addition to her musical talents, Dr. Nixon brings expertise in business, computer science, technology, and multimedia productions to the table; she earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Purdue University summa cum laude in 1987 and founded Catspaw Studios, a multimedia production company based in South Bend, Indiana, in 1993. She is certified in online teaching, and is a co-founder of the Nixon Room, a technological resource room in Wabash, Indiana. She teaches business computer courses at Ivy Tech Community College and has developed a hybrid in-person and online music school, Mpingo Studios (www.mpingostudios.com).
Elizabeth Nixon
Elizabeth Nixon is currently pursuing a B.A. in International Studies at the Indiana University School of Global and International Studies, with minors in African Studies, Swahili, Political Science, Non-profit Management, and Music. A section leader and soloist for the St. Charles Catholic Church choir in Bloomington, Ms. Nixon has also performed with the IU Opera & Ballet Theater, University Chorale, and University Singers. An active advocate for local music education and performance, Ms. Nixon has experience teaching flute, piano, and voice to younger members of the local community, and has primarily worked with the young musicians of St. James Primary School in Nairobi during the course of the Tunaweza Kimuziki program. She is also the able photographer and videographer for the TK team. Ms. Nixon is a recipient of the Edward L. Hutton International Experiences Program Grant, the IU Excellence Scholarship, the Elena Veach Award, and the Elizabeth O. Wooley Scholarship, and was selected last spring for the highly competitive Hutton Family Study Abroad Scholarship.
Andrew PhamAndrew Pham is a sensitive collaborative pianist based in Oregon. He has been Indianapolis Opera’s Resident Artist Coach and Pianist for two seasons in 2020-21. In Fall 2020 amidst COVID restrictions, he produced and directed a socially distanced outdoor opera production sponsored by Cascadia Chamber Opera. In 2019 he worked as a staff pianist for Accademia Locale Lorenzo Malfatti in Lucca, Italy. In 2017, with soprano Emma Rose Lynn, he founded Spire Duo, an art song partnership dedicated to innovative concert programming. Locally in Oregon, Andrew has worked with organizations including the Oregon Bach Festival, Oregon Mozart Players, the Shedd Institute, and the University of Oregon. Andrew received degrees from University of Oregon (M.M. Collaborative Piano), Indiana University (M.M. Piano Performance), and James Madison University (B.M. Piano Performance/Music Composition).
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Lisa WongDr. Wong is in her fifth year on the faculty of The College of Wooster, where she directs the Wooster Chorus, the Wooster Singers, and teaches courses in conducting and music education. In addition to her duties at the college, Dr. Wong is on the conducting staff of The Cleveland Orchestra as Assistant Director of Choruses. In this capacity, she assists in preparing the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and Blossom Festival Chorus for performances throughout the season. She is also in her second season as Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus.
Dr. Wong has worked with students of all levels, ranging from pre-kindergarten through college. Prior to her appointment at Wooster, she was active as a music educator for 16 years in public and private schools in New York, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. She was an Associate Instructor in the Choral Department of The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where she directed the All-Campus Choir and taught undergraduate conducting. In addition, she directed the Chamber Choir of the Indiana University Children’s Choir, leading the ensemble in performance at the 2008 Indiana Music Educator’s State Conference. A strong advocate for music education, Dr. Wong remains active as a clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator. She has presented her work at several music conferences and is frequently invited to work with students and educators in clinics and workshops. Dr. Wong has a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from West Chester University, and Master of Music and Doctor of Music degrees in Choral Conducting from Indiana University. |
Photo Courtesy of The College of Wooster.
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Community PartnersOur sincere gratitude to the groups that help make Tunaweza Kimuziki's work possible:
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