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Image of Max Berry holding an mbira

From Zimbabwe to Indonesia: Max Berry’s Musical Journey

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Max Berry has been involved with the Center for World Music (CWM) and its World Music in the Schools program for almost two decades. A passionate and versatile musician, Max has explored a wide range of traditions, studying guitar, mbira, marimba, and gamelan. His deep curiosity and commitment to learning have made him a respected member of the local music community—and a valued addition to the CWM artist roster.

Image of Max Berry playing electric guitar on stageMax’s musical journey began in his teenage years in Ohio with the guitar. It continued through his studies at California State University San Marcos, where he earned a degree in Visual and Performing Arts. There, under the mentorship of music professor Randy Griswold, he was introduced to the traditional Shona music of Zimbabwe—an experience that sparked a lifelong interest in the music of world cultures. This passion led him to study with renowned Zimbabwean mbira masters Forward Kwenda and Cosmas Magaya, as well as other respected gwenyambiras.

After relocating to San Diego, Max quickly became a sought-after performer in the city’s vibrant world music scene. He formed close collaborations with fellow CWM teaching artists Nomsa Burkhardt and Garit Imhoff, eventually becoming a founding member of two ensembles: Izinde and Zimbeat. The latter was nominated for Best World Music Ensemble at the 2013 San Diego Music Awards. Today, Max continues to perform with both groups while also playing guitar for Mokoto, a local Afro-pop band dedicated to Shona music.

His musical exploration didn’t stop there. Inspired by CWM teaching artist Pak Djoko Walujo, Max undertook a serious study of Javanese gamelan and now performs West Javanese gamelan degung with Kembang Sunda, one of the CWM’s Ensembles-in-Residence.

Max Berry playing with Gamelan Kembang Sunda with musicians sitting at their instruments on the stage floor.Known for his calm presence and approachable nature, Max is especially gifted at working with children. He spent several years teaching guitar at America’s Finest Charter School and recently taught mbira for a semester at the San Diego French American School through a World Music in the Schools residency.

Max Berry with Nomsa Burkhart and Friends, on stage following a school assembly programAs a frequent performer in World Music in the Schools assemblies in the San Diego area, Max has introduced thousands of students to the music and cultures of Zimbabwe, South Africa, Java, and beyond, making a lasting impact through the universal language of music.

Watch Max playing mbira with John Hofisi, a colleague from the band Mokoto:

Listen to the album “Messenger” by Mokoto.

Watch Max (center) performing with Kembang Sunda:

 

Image of Edie Stanley performing Hawaiian dance on stage

Edie Heali‘i: Dancer, Educator, and Tradition Bearer for Polynesian Culture

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The Center for World Music is happy to include Edieann Heali‘i ‘O Nalani Stanley—better known as Edie Heali‘i—in our World Music in the Schools roster of teaching artists.

A respected kumu (teacher) of Hawaiian dance and an internationally acclaimed performer, Edie brings her deep cultural knowledge to every performance and every classroom she enters. She joins her brothers, Anthony and James Stanley, as the third member of her family to become part of the Center’s teaching staff, sharing Island traditions with students across San Diego.

As a traditional Polynesian dancer, cultural ambassador, and hula instructor, Edie’s artistry is rooted in heritage, storytelling, and a strong connection to community. She grew up in San Diego surrounded by Hawaiian music, dance, and oral history, foundations that continue to guide her work. Edie began studying dance early in life under the mentorship of her mother, renowned dancer Kathy Healiʻi O Nālani Gore Stanley. By the age of 14, Edie was performing as a solo dancer, sharing the stage with celebrated musicians including vocalist Amy Hanaiali’i Gilliom and the bands Kapena and The Makaha Sons.

In 2006, Edie graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a minor in business administration. She has represented the Hawaiian community as Miss Pacific Islander of San Diego and Miss Hui O Hawai‘i. In 2008, she was chosen as one of twelve women worldwide to compete at the Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition, an honor that led to international touring opportunities. Through performances, exhibitions, and educational workshops across Hawai‘i and the continental U.S., Edie has become a vital force in preserving and sharing Pacific Island cultures.

Image of Edie Stanley Teaching at Murdock Elementary School with students following her movements

Edie Stanley Teaching at Murdock Elementary School

Today, Edie serves as artistic director of Healiʻi’s Polynesian Revue and is the founder of Power of Hula. Together with her ohana (family) she continues to keep the traditions of Hawai‘i, Tahiti, Samoa, and New Zealand vibrant in San Diego. The family lives by the motto ‘A ‘ohe hana nui ke ‘alu ‘ia, “No task is too great when done together by all.”

As a resident teaching artist and assembly performer with the Center for World Music’s World Music in the Schools program, Edie shares her rich cultural background and love of dance with students across the region. We join our students in saying “Mahalo Edie.”

Watch an ABC Ten News video featuring Edie and her mother and celebrating Healiʻi’s Polynesian Revue:

Clip from YouTube "ABC 10 Masters of Hula in San Diego"

 

Photo of Mia Aust in Ubud, Bali

Mia Aust, Early Schools Program Student, Returns as Teaching Artist

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Photo of Mia playing in the gamelan for Museum School showcase, 2009

Mia playing in the gamelan for Museum School showcase, 2009

Mia Aust’s musical journey began in the 3rd grade at San Diego’s Museum School. There, she joined a Balinese gamelan class offered through the CWM’s World Music in the Schools program, which had been going strong at her school since 1999. Fast forward through a decade and a half of study, practice, and growth, and Mia is now a CWM teaching artist herself, specializing in Balinese gamelan angklung ensemble music. A full circle!

Her early experience in the Museum School gamelan, under the instruction of CWM teaching artists Alex Khalil and Andrea Hernandez, shaped the foundation of her musical understanding, emphasizing learning by ear and repetition over traditional Western notation. She also studied Balinese dance during this time, deepening her appreciation for Indonesian performing arts.

Mia played with the Museum School ensemble until 2013. But that wasn’t the end of her involvement. In 2016, while in high school, she discovered the University of San Diego (USD) gamelan ensemble. Led at that time by David Harnish and Tyler Yamin, the USD group was open to non-USD students. Mia joined and helped recruit fellow Museum School alumni. With few other opportunities to play gamelan available in San Diego, USD’s Gamelan Gunung Mas became a vital hub for community musicians. Mia continues to perform with this ensemble today, allowing her to study under Hirotaka Inuzuka and current director Meghan Hynson.

Photo of Mia in Balinese costume performing with USD Gamelan 2019

Mia (left) performing with USD Gamelan, 2019

Mia earned her Bachelor of Science in Plant Biology from UC Riverside in 2024. While at UCR, she briefly joined the university’s Javanese gamelan ensemble, directed by Pak Joko Sutrisno. Her dual passion for science and music has shaped her unique perspective, with gamelan providing a creative outlet that enhances her ability to recognize patterns, learn new skills, and teach others.

As a teaching artist for the CWM’s World Music in the Schools program, Mia brings a thoughtful and adaptive teaching style, rooted in her early experiences teaching swim lessons to children and adults. She excels at breaking down complex concepts for beginners, fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment for students of all backgrounds.

 

For Further Exploration

Watch Mia Aust (far left) playing with the USD Gamelan Gunung Mas:

 

Dramane Koné: Griot and Master Drummer

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Born into the renowned Koné griot lineage in Burkina Faso, West Africa, Dramane Koné began playing the djembe (goblet drum) at just three years old. Taught by his father and grandfather—both master drummers—he quickly developed extraordinary skill. By his early teens, he was already recognized as a world-class djembefola, a dedicated practitioner of traditional djembe music.

As a griot, Dramane is a guardian of West African musical traditions, passed down orally through generations. His electrifying performances and deep cultural knowledge have earned him international acclaim. He has toured extensively across Europe and the U.S., performing as a soloist and with prestigious groups like the National Ballet of Burkina Faso. Now based in California, he continues to share the rich rhythms of West Africa through performances, teaching, and workshops. He is also an active member of Drum Café West, bringing high-energy drumming to corporate and cultural events.

During his childhood, Dramane’s family moved to Mali before returning to Burkina Faso. His early musical journey was featured in the award-winning 1997 film Great Great Great Grandparents’ Music by filmmaker Taale Laafi Rossellini. A four-year-old Dramane appears in the film (see clip below), already immersed in his craft.

Dramane playing balafon

Image of Dramane on TEDx stage

Dramane on TEDx stage

His passion for music and teaching shines in every performance, where his mastery of the djembe and balafon (gourd-resonated xylophone) transports audiences into the heart of African traditions. He sees his mission as spreading joy, love, laughter, and cultural connection through rhythm and song.

For the Center for World Music, Dramane and his ensemble, Ballet Djelia Kadi, perform at school assemblies, senior programs, and community events in San Diego, inspiring new generations through the power of music.

For Further Exploration

Watch Dramane Koné and members of Ballet Djelia Kadi performing at Cedar Cove Academy:

A clip from the Grandparents’ Music video mentioned above, showing Dramane studying balafon with his father:

 

Joko Sutrisno: 35 Years of Sharing Javanese Music

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Joko Sutrisno is a distinguished Javanese gamelan performer, composer, and educator whose career spans both Indonesia and the international stage. A graduate of the Indonesian Institute of Arts in Surakarta, Java, in 1987, Sutrisno has dedicated his life to sharing the beauty and complexity of gamelan music with diverse audiences worldwide.

He began his international teaching journey as the director of the gamelan ensemble at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, a role he held for eight years. In 1995, he moved to Minnesota, where he served as the artistic director of the Sumunar Gamelan and Dance Ensemble until 2023.

Currently, Sutrisno holds dual appointments as a professor of gamelan at UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music and UC Riverside’s School of Music. Additionally, he is the consulting director for gamelan ensembles at Saint Thomas University, the University of South Dakota, Concordia College, and Hamilton College. In 2024, he was named an apprentice with the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA).

As a composer, Sutrisno has created over 20 original works that blend Javanese gamelan with a wide variety of art forms, including Western symphony and choir, Indian, Chinese, Arabic, Middle Eastern, and West African music. His innovative collaborations demonstrate his commitment to bridging cultural traditions and expanding the reach of gamelan music.

Sutrisno’s contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the Creative Individuals Award from the Minnesota State Arts Board (2022, 2023), the Outstanding Alumni Award from the Indonesian Institute of Arts in Surakarta (2018), and a McKnight Composer Fellowship (2016).

Pak Joko in class at Canyon Crest Academy

Since 2010, Sutrisno has been a teaching artist with the Center for World Music, where he leads the Javanese gamelan program at Canyon Crest Academy High School. This thriving program reflects his dedication to inspiring the next generation of musicians. Alongside his wife and artistic partner, Tri Martodikromo, Sutrisno continues to share the rich traditions of Central Javanese court music, dance, and language.

It is a true privilege to have such a highly respected and accomplished artist as part of the Center for World Music’s teaching team in San Diego.

Videos for Further Exploration

Joko Sutrisno directing full gamelan performance with dancer:


And a short clip with Pak Joko playing gendèr:

 

Quin Herron playing tin whistle with school children watching.

Quin Herron: Bringing People Together with Irish Music

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Originally from Plano, Texas, and raised in La Mesa, California, Quin Herron was drawn to traditional Irish music after being captivated by the sounds of James Galway and The Chieftains. Today, he serves as chair of the San Diego chapter of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Irish Gaelic: “Gathering of Musicians of Ireland”), an international organization dedicated to promoting Irish music, dance, language, and culture. Whenever he has the chance, Quin travels to Ireland to deepen his connection to the music and culture.

Portrait of Quin HerronAs a high school junior, Quin spent a year in Belgium as a Rotary exchange student. Later, while studying creative writing and music at the University of San Francisco, he completed a junior year abroad at Trinity College Dublin. This experience allowed him to travel extensively across Europe and especially in Ireland.

A skilled musician, Quin plays both the Irish tin whistle—a keyless, end-blown flute ideal for beginners—and the Irish flute, typically crafted from wood and based on the classical flute design of the 19th century. Known for its rhythmic, percussive, and expressive qualities, the Irish flute perfectly suits Ireland’s vibrant dance music. Quin honed his flute skills by studying with some of Ireland’s top musicians and playing in traditional music sessions across the country.

In addition to his instrumental work, Quin is an accomplished vocalist, performing Irish songs in the unaccompanied Sean-nós (old style) tradition. He also lends his voice as a tenor with the San Diego Master Chorale and serves as a cantor at Santa Sophia Catholic Church.

In his role with CWM’s World Music in the Schools program, Quin introduces students to Irish melodies on the tin whistle and teaches them traditional Irish songs. A tin whistle is available for each student thanks to donations from the community collected by Comhaltas.

If there’s traditional Irish music happening in San Diego, you’re likely to find Quin there. He’s a regular on Tuesdays at The Ould Sod in Normal Heights and on Saturdays at The Pub in Bay Park. His band, Gallowglass, is also preparing to release a new album.

Videos for Further Exploration

Gallowglass, with Quin on flute, performing “Over the Moor to Maggie”:


And a short clip with Quin on vocal:

 

James Stanley: Teaching Hawaiian Ukulele, Movement, and Culture

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James Stanley is a San Diego native who was raised embracing, embodying, and sharing Hawaiian culture and arts. He is the eldest son of Kumu (Hula Teacher) Kathy Heali’i Gore Stanley, the founder of San Diego’s Heali’i’s Polynesian Revue. As such, James was immersed in Polynesian arts and began performing dance and playing the ukulele at a very young age. His love of dance and movement eventually inspired him to earn a BA in kinesiology from CSU Northridge in 2018.

Image of James Stanley performing traditional Hawaiian dance

James Stanley performing traditional Hawaiian dance

James has performed with many of Hawai’i’s music legends, including HAPA, Na Leo Pilimehana, Amy Hānaiali’i, Makaha Sons, and Kalani Pe’a. Today, James is an alakaʻi (co-leader) and kāne director (men’s director) for Heali’i’s Polynesian Revue. He pours his aloha into nurturing his family’s hālau (Hawaiian dance school) through music, dancing, and traditional practices.

We are proud to have James as a teaching artist for the CWM’s youth education program, World Music in the Schools. James engages over 900 San Diego County school children a week with Hawaiian language and traditions, ukulele, and dancing.

Image of James Stanley in a World Music in the Schools classroom

James Stanley in a World Music in the Schools classroom

James’ brother, Anthony Kauka Stanley is also a teaching artist for the School’s program. Learn more about Anthony from his profile on our website.

For Further Exploration

Watch James Stanley on stage performing Hawaiian dance to the music of the Mākaha Sons:

 

Silvio Diaz: Empowering Students through Latin Rhythms

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Born in Mexico City, Silvio Diaz grew up in Ensenada and Tijuana in an artistic household. His family produced educational performances for children, featuring puppetry, theater, and music. At a young age, Silvio played various musical instruments, including the clarinet, guitar, and drum set, along with other forms of percussion. Additionally, he participated in his family’s puppetry, theater, and music productions, performing in Mexico, Spain, and the United States.

While performing with his family, Silvio pursued his interest in visual arts and Latin percussion. He attended an arts high school in Mexico City before earning a bachelor’s degree in music composition from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico. His journey as a musician involved playing in several bands, each specializing in different genres—including reggae, rock, and Latin music—while pursuing his own musical goals.

In 2018, Silvio relocated to San Diego to join his father and brother in their percussion ensemble Drummers Without Borders. Since its formation, Drummers Without Borders has been dedicated to providing music education to underserved communities, schools, correctional facilities, and the general public. The group uses rhythm as a fundamental tool to engage students and help them feel a sense of accomplishment. Their programs sometimes end with a parade with large puppets and rows of children marching with drums.

Drummers Without Borders has performed for the Center for World Music in two recent series: “Music on the Move: Border Stories” at The Front Arte Cultura Gallery and “Sound of the Border | Sonido de la Frontera” at Mingei International Museum.As a teaching artist with the CWM’s World Music in the Schools program, Silvio introduces students to the percussive rhythms of Latin America. He encourages his pupils to start simple, try new things, collaborate, and express themselves. His goal is to inspire confidence and teamwork.

Thanks to a partnership between the CWM, San Diego Unified’s Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Department, the VAPA Foundation, and the California Arts Council, Silvio participated in a program at Balboa Elementary highlighting the music and rhythms of Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America.

San Diego’s KUSI News featured this class for bringing culturally relevant music programming into schools:

Silvio teaches for organizations such as the San Diego Guild of Puppetry, Arts Education Connection San Diego, The House of Music, and Bocón Arts. He also enjoys playing music at home with his daughter. His ultimate dream is for everyone to recognize the power of art in education and human development.

Kaylie Kirby: Continuing a Legacy of Indonesian Arts

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Sharing her love of Indonesian arts through the CWM’s World Music in the Schools program, Kaylie Kirby is patient, passionate, and playful as a teaching artist.

Kaylie is no stranger to Balinese gamelan angklung (metallophone ensemble) in the K–8 classroom. She began her journey with Indonesian music and dance when she was in 5th grade at Museum School, the school in which she now teaches young students. There she studied Balinese gamelan and dance with master teachers I Nyoman Sumandhi and Ni Putu Sutiati, who were CWM distinguished visiting artists in San Diego back in the early 2000s. You can learn more about her full-circle performing arts journey from this feature story on our website.

After her first exposure to Indonesian arts as a 5th grader, Kaylie continued her studies, attending after-school classes in Balinese dance. Later, she joined Puspa Warsa, an ensemble of advanced students organized by former CWM teaching artists Alex Khalil and Kaori Okado. With that group, Kaylie performed all over Southern California for numerous universities and festivals, and on television.

Kaylie with daughter

She later studied under other Balinese masters, including I Nyoman Wenten, renowned Balinese musician and dancer, at CalArts and UCLA. In 2018–19, she was a member of the Balinese gamelan angklung ensemble Gunung Mas at the University of San Diego, directed by Dr. David Harnish.

Today Kaylie finds joy in sharing her passion for Indonesian music and culture, especially as her own children are now enrolled in the program at Museum School in San Diego’s Bankers Hill neighborhood.

Meghan Hynson: Sharing the Music and Culture of Indonesia

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Image of Meghan Hynson in Bali Holding an Angklung

Meghan Hynson with angklung in Java



Meghan Hynson was first exposed to Balinese gamelan (gong ensemble) while studying for her undergraduate degree in music education and oboe performance at Boston University. Intrigued by the sound of the gamelan, she soon began studying Indonesian ensemble music, took private lessons on Balinese gendèr wayang (metallophone duo or quartet), and was awarded a scholarship to travel to Bali to follow her passion for Indonesian music and culture.

She eventually earned her MA and PhD in ethnomusicology at UCLA, writing her dissertation on Balinese shadow puppet theater. Having taught at Duquesne University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Monmouth University, Dr. Hynson is currently adjunct assistant professor of ethnomusicology at the University of San Diego, where she directs the Balinese gamelan ensemble and teaches courses in global music.

Fluent in Bahasa Indonesia, the national language of that multi-cultured nation, Dr. Hynson has spent over a decade living and studying in Southeast Asia. In 2019, Dr. Hynson toured internationally as a vocalist for the Indonesian pop band, the Dangdut Cowboys, under the invitation of the U.S. State Department. She typically spends several months each year at her second home in Mas Village, Bali, doing research and furthering her study of the island’s rich traditions.

Image of Meghan Hynson in Classroom

Meghan Hynson in San Diego classroom

During her career, Dr. Hynson has developed world music curricula and outreach programs for K-12 schools, worked with major museums and international world music festivals, and spoken out for global diversity through music via campus and community activities.

As a teaching artist with the CWM’s World Music in the Schools program, Dr. Hynson teaches Balinese gamelan angklung and Indonesian angklung rattles.

See Dr. Hynson Performing

Meghan Hynson Plays Gendèr Wayang in Bali

Meghan Playing Sundanese Gamelan Degung

Leading the University of San Diego’s Gamelan Gunung Mas