The Sounds of the NEA Heritage Fellows


Text by Paulette Beete. All photos by Tom Pich
a group photo of the 2016 NEA National Heritage Fellows with Jane Chu and Cliff Murphy on the colonnaded mezzanine at the Library of Congress Jefferson building
2016 NEA National Heritage Fellows: (clockwise from left), NEA Chair Jane Chu, Bryan Akipa, Michael Vlahovich, Joseph Pierre "Big Chief Monk" Boudreaux, Bounxeung SynanonhNEA Director of Folk and Traditional Arts Cliff Murphy, Artemio Posadas, Theresa Secord, Leona Waddell, Clarissa Rizal, Billy McComiskey. Photo by Tom Pich
Tonight we celebrate the 2016 NEA National Heritage Fellows with a celebration concert! Join us in person at Lisner Auditorium (info about free tickets here) or tune in to arts.gov at 8:00 pm ET for the live webcast. As a preview, here are some performances by five of the master artists we're honoring tonight. (Click on the song titles for a link to each song.) Visit the Heritage Fellows page on arts.gov to learn more about all nine of the 2016 NEA National Heritage Fellows. BRYAN AKIPA, DAKOTA FLUTE PLAYER AND MAKER
Heritage Fellow in traditional Dakota dress playing the flute
Bryan Akipa plays the flute at the NEA National Heritage Fellows medal ceremony.
Excerpt of "First Song"  Excerpt of "Buffalo Nation"  JOSEPH PIERRE "BIG CHIEF MONK BOUDREAUX," MARDI GRAS INDIAN CRAFTSMAN AND MUSICIAN
Jane Chu and Joseph Pierre Big Chief Monk Boudreaux after medal ceremony
Big Chief Monk Boudreaux with NEA Chair Jane Chu
Excerpt of the traditional song, "Two-Way-Pak-E-Way"  Excerpt of "Footsteps"  BILLY MCCOMISKEY, IRISH BUTTON ACCORDIONIST
Jane Chu puts Heritage medal around the neck of Billy McComiskey as he bows his head
Billy McComiskey receives the NEA National Heritage Fellowship medal from NEA Chair Jane Chu.
Excerpt of traditional "The Music Book/Bela Bartok" Excerpt of "The Flowers of Brooklyn/The Palm Tree" ARTEMIO POSADAS, MASTER HUASTECAN SON MUSICIAN AND ADVOCATE
Artemio Posadas stands with NEA Chair Jane Chu
Artemio Posadas with NEA Chair Jane Chu.
Excerpt of "La Llorona" Excerpt of "El Fandanguito" BOUNXEUNG SYNANONH, LAOTIAN KHAEN PLAYER
Bounxeung Synanonh playing the khaen form behind a podium
Bounxeung Synanonh (center) performs at the 2016 NEA National Heritage Fellowships medal ceremony.
"Lom Phat Phay"

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