Experience the musical traditions of Thailand in this concert featuring Supeena Insee Adler, director of the UCLA Music of Thailand Ensemble. With instruments including xylophone, plucked zither, fiddles, mouth organ, flute, and percussion, Dr. Adler will present musical traditions from three distinct cultural regions in Thailand, along with world fusion arrangements and original compositions. Supeena will be joined by Christopher Adler on the khaen free-reed mouth organ, Batya MacAdam-Somer on violin, two Thai classical dancers, and five guest artists.
Supeena Insee Adler is a trained ethnomusicologist and an accomplished Thai musician. Raised in Northeast Thailand, near the Laotian border, she is fluent in Lao as well as Thai. She is currently an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Ethnomusicology, Herb Alpert School of Music, UCLA, where–in addition to directing the Music of Thailand Ensemble–she also serves as world music instrument curator. Professor Adler has curated Thai music and dance events in Southern California with artists from North America and Thailand, and performed in venues across the U.S.
Having repaired and restored the Thai musical instrument collection at UCLA in 2014–2015, she subsequently re-established the Music of Thailand Ensemble class there after a four-decade hiatus. For nearly two decades, she has volunteered to teach Thai traditional music at the Thai Buddhist Temple of San Diego, where she also performs regularly. She holds a Ph.D. in music (ethnomusicology) and an M.A. in Southeast Asian studies from UC Riverside. She earned her B.F.A. in Thai classical music from Mahasarakham University, Thailand.
Composer and improviser Christopher Adler will join Supeena Insee Adler. Dr. Christopher Adler is a professor of music and director of Asian studies at the University of San Diego. He is the world’s leading innovator in contemporary concert music for the khaen, the bamboo free-reed mouth organ of Laos and Northeast Thailand. Through his ongoing project New Musical Geographies, he has promoted the khaen by commissioning and recording new works for the instrument by composers from around the world. In 2020, he released Triangulations: New music for khaen, volume one, the first compact disc dedicated to contemporary khaen composition. Dr. Adler’s works have been released on many labels, including Tzadik and Innova, and his performances can be heard on labels such as Centaur and Vienna Modern Masters.
Batya MacAdam-Somer is a violinist, violist, and vocalist specializing in collaboration and experimentation. Her work spans classical, avant-garde, folk, and popular music genres, taking her to venues throughout the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Europe. She has performed with ensembles and organizations including Project [BLANK], Art of Elan, San Diego New Music, Festival Vértice, wasteLAnd, Bang on A Can All-Stars, Hutchins Consort, the San Diego Symphony, and the Reno Philharmonic. She is also a member of Baby Bushka, an all-female band celebrating the music of Kate Bush.
Tickets
General Seating: $35
VIP Seating: $50
The ticket price includes admission to the performance and access to Mingei International Museum’s Gallery Level ($14 value) after 4 PM on the day of the performance. The Commons Level is free for all.
Please purchase your tickets early. These performances sell out well in advance. Tickets are transferrable but non-refundable.
Health and Safety
The Center for World Music follows Mingei’s Visitors Guidelines. Masks are encouraged but not required.
WORLD MUSIC AT MINGEI
SERIES SPONSOR
Revitalized Affordable Housing Development
GRANT SUPPORT
Financial support was provided by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture.
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