Topaz and Sukay Ensemble Present 'Sounds of South America II' May 4, 2008

TOPAZ and the SUKAY Ensemble will perform "Sounds of South America II," a benefit concert where net proceeds will benefit the victims of the recent Peruvian earthquake.

Mimi Dye, violist and Artistic Director of TOPAZ, along with Eddie Navia and the SUKAY Ensemble will present festive Andean music from Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. The performance will feature pan flutes, Peruvian guitars, percussion, vocals and dancers, including talented, young performers from Castilleja School in Palo Alto.

About the Artists
Mimi Dye, violist, composer and Artistic Director of TOPAZ, is well known to Bay Area audiences as a soloist, chamber musician, and jazz performer. Ms. Dye was a student of Itzhak Perlman. Ms. Dye has appeared as soloist with the Carmel Bach Festival, San Francisco Chamber Players, New York String Ensemble, Nova Vista Symphony, Palo Alto Philharmonic and the Baroque Chamber Players and is an artist-in-residence at the Yachats Festival in Yachats, Oregon. Ms. Dye has performed with jazz performers including Eddie Gale, Wayne Wallace, Terry Disley and Peter Barshay. Her numerous orchestral credits include playing in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, touring with Barbra Streisand and recording movie scores in Los Angeles. Her compositions include an album of solo viola works, two chamber jazz suites, and a new jazz CD, "River in the Sun." Ms. Dye has also composed two other CDs.

Eddy Navia, born in Bolivia, is one of the greatest exponents and master virtuosos of the Charango, a traditional Bolivian stringed instrument. He became artistic director of Pachamama and Sukay in 1989, and writes most of their new material. Navia was a founding member of the legendary Bolivian group Savia Andina, with whom he has 35 recordings. Savia Andina was a major force in bringing Andean music into mainstream South American culture and toured throughout the world, even hitting the Top 40 charts. Eddy Navia has 8 other solo recordings.

$20/10 students with RSVP and $25/$12.50 students at the door.

Official Website: http://www.topazmusic.org