Enriching the arts environment in Southern California and beyond, the Center for World Music has a long-standing tradition of supporting performing artists and ensembles, as well as bringing master teachers of traditional performing arts from abroad to San Diego for extended residencies.
On this page you will find lists of our teaching artists, ensembles-in-residence, and distinguished visiting artists.
2022–23 Teaching Artists in Residence
| Cultures | Teaching Artists | Traditions / Activities |
| Africa (South Africa) | Nomsa Burkhardt | South African Music and Dance |
| Africa (Guinea) | Idrissa Bangoura | African Dance, Drumming, and Singing |
| Africa (Burkina Faso) | Dramane Kone | African Drumming and Dance |
| Africa (Zimbabwe) | Piwai | Shona Singing and Mbira |
| Africa (Zimbabwe) | Garit Imhoff | Shona Mbira and Singing |
| Australia | Randin Graves | Aboriginal Didjeridoo |
| Caribbean (Grand Cayman) | Natasha Kozaily | Caymanian Song and Folklore |
| Cuba | Juan Carlos Blanco | Afro-Cuban Dance and Drumming |
| Europe (Balkans) | Marie Hayes | Southeastern European Vocal Music |
| Europe (Ireland) | Máirtín de Cógáin | Irish Songs, Storytelling, and Percussion |
| Europe (Spain) | Lakshmi Basile | Flamenco Dance |
| India (East) | Shibani Patnaik | Odissi Folk and Classical Dance |
| India (North) | Miles Shrewsbery | North Indian Tabla |
| India (North) | Sufi Raina | Indian Kathak Dance |
| Indonesia (Java) | Djoko Walujo | Javanese Gamelan Ensemble |
| Indonesia (Java) | Laurel Grinnell-Wilson | Javanese Gamelan Ensemble |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Matthew Clough-Hunter | Balinese Gamelan Ensemble |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Hirotaka Inuzuka | Balinese Gamelan Ensemble |
| Mexico (Veracruz) | Eduardo García | Son Jarocho Music and Dance |
| Mexico (Veracruz) | Cindy Carbajal | Son Jarocho Music and Dance |
| Mexico (Veracruz) | Cristina Juárez | Son Jarocho Music and Dance |
| Mexico | Kristina Cunningham | Ballet Folklorico Dance |
| Middle East (Iran) | Kourosh Taghavi | Persian Music and Singing |
| North America | Clinton Davis | Traditional American Music |
| Pacific Islands (Hawaii) | Anthony Kauka Stanley | Polynesian Music and Ukulele |
| Philippines | Bernard Ellorin | Music of the Philippines |
| South America (Brazil) | Claudia Lyra | Brazilian Rhythm, Dance, Capoeira, and Song |
| South America (Brazil) | Stefanie Schmitz | Brazilian Music and Rhythms |
2022–23 Ensembles-in-Residence
| Cultures | Ensembles | Traditions / Activities |
| India | Balabantaray and Friends | Odissi Music and Dance |
| India | Sitar and Tabla Duo | Classical North Indian Music |
| Iran | Setar Ensemble | Persian Classical Music |
| Indonesia | Kembang Sunda | Gamelan Degung |
| Indonesia | Gamelan Merdu Kumala | Balinese Gamelan Angklung and Kecak |
| Philippines | Pakaraguian Ensemble | Kulintang Music and Dance |
| Africa | Ballet Djelia Kadi | West African Drumming and Dance |
| Africa | Sene Africa | Senegalese Kora Music |
| Africa | Zimbeat | Zimbabwean and South African Music and Dance |
| Africa | Zimbabwean Mbira Duo | Shona Mbira Music |
| Brazil | Cajuína + The Super Sonic Samba School | Brazilian Samba Music and Dance |
| Mexico | Son de San Diego | Mexican Son Jarocho Music and Dance |
| Brazil | Nós de Chita | Brazilian Music and Dance |
| Cuba | Omo Aché | Afro-Cuban Music and Dance |
| Finland | Merja Soria and Friends | Finnish Folk Music |
| Eastern Europe | Trio Zheni | Balkan Vocal Music |
| Ireland | Gallowglass | Traditional Irish Music and Dance |
Distinguished Visiting Artists, 1979–2022
| Teaching Artist | Country | Art Form | Dates |
| I Wayan Sinti | Indonesia | Balinese Gamelan | 1978–1981 |
| Trichy Shankaran | India | Carnatic Percussion | 1980 |
| I Nyoman Astita | Indonesia | Balinese Gamelan | 1982–1983 |
| I Wayan Rai | Indonesia | Balinese Gamelan | 1983–1984 |
| Rizaldi Siagian | Indonesia | Sumatran Drumming | 1983–1984 |
| I. M. Harjito | Indonesia | Javanese Gamelan | 1983–1984 |
| K. V. Narayanaswamy | India | Carnatic Vocal Music | 1984-1985 |
| Pak Sarno | Indonesia | Javanese Gamelan | 1985–1986 |
| Rahayu Supanggah | Indonesia | Javanese Gamelan | 1987–1988 |
| Sunarno Purwolelono | Indonesia | Javanese Dance | 1989–1990 |
| Dalang Oemartopo | Indonesia | Javanese Gamelan | 1993–1995 |
| Ephat Mujuru | Zimbabwe | Shona Mbira | 1994 |
| K. P. H. Notoprojo | Indonesia | Javanese Gamelan | 1989–1992 |
| Djoko Walujo | Indonesia | Javanese Gamelan | 1997–2019 |
| I Made Lasmawan | Indonesia | Balinese Gamelan | 1990–1992 |
| Komla Amoaku | Ghana | Ewe Drumming | 1994–1995 |
| William Anku | Ghana | Ewe Drumming | 1995–1996 |
| Forward Kwenda | Zimbabwe | Shona Mbira | 1997 |
| Tute Chigamba | Zimbabwe | Shona Mbira | 1998 |
| Cosmas Magaya | Zimbabwe | Shona Mbira | 1998 |
| M. R. Lotfi | Iran | Persian Setar | 1998 |
| Amir Pourjavady | Iran | Persian Setar | 2003–2004 |
| Hossein Omoumi | Iran | Persian Ney | 2003 |
| I Nyoman Sumandhi | Indonesia | Balinese Gamelan | 2002–2003 |
| Ni Putu Sutiati | Indonesia | Balinese Dance | 2002–2003 |
| Kwame Degbor | Ghana | Ewe Drumming and Dance | 2005–2008 |
| Yudhisthir Nayak | India | Odissi Dance | 2005–2010 |
| Janhabi Behera | India | Odissi Dance | 2008–2009 |
| Amulya Balabantaray | India | Odissi Dance | 2010–2016 |
| Ade Suparman | Indonesia | Sundanese Gamelan | 2011–2013 |
| Nomsa Burkhardt | South Africa | Zulu Dance | 2011–2021 |
| Jacob Mafuleni | Zimbabwe | Shona Mbira | 2012–2013 |
| Martha Thom | Zimbabwe | Shona Dance | 2012–2013 |
| Jorge Choquehuillca | Peru | Andean Music | 2012–2013 |
| Merja Soria | Finland | Kantele and Singing | 2018 |
| Eduardo “Dudu” Fuentes | Brazil | Samba Percussion | 2017–2018 |
| Patience Chaitezvi Munjeri | Zimbabwe | Shona Mbira | 2019 |