North Valley Music School hosts Turkish Music Workshop

North Valley Music School will host a free Turkish Music Workshop for the community Monday, Aug. 22. Doors open at 6:30 p.m and the workshop is from 7 to 8 p.m. The workshop will feature Nashville-based duo Mare Wakefield and Nomad. The duo combines Mare’s strength as an award-winning songwriter with Nomad’s classically-trained piano and accordion skills.

“Music appreciation is a key aspect to our mission and offering this free public event is a way to bring more music into the world for enjoyment and connection,” said NVMS DIrector of Opportunity Jessica Shaw.

Pianist and percussionist Nomad Ovunc will lead the workshop introducing the basic elements of Turkish music. Born in Central Turkey, Nomad’s first musical experiences were steeped in the complex melodies and odd rhythms of Turkish music. His subsequent training in classical music at Istanbul State Conservatory and jazz at Berklee College of Music in Boston gave him the unique ability to illustrate the many ways in which Turkish music differs from Western styles, and what makes Turkish music sound “different” or “exotic” to Western ears.

Mare Wakefield and Nomad were 2016 and 2015 finalists at Kerrville’s NewFolk Songwriting Competition in Texas and 2015 Emerging Artists at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in New York. Their original song “Candles & Carols” was featured in a 2017 Lifetime TV movie. Their 2018 record “Time to Fly” spent four weeks in the Top Ten on the Roots Americana charts and featured the No. 2 song of the month for February 2018 on the Folk DJ radio charts.

“As NVMS celebrates its 25th anniversary, we hope this unique genre will delight and inspire others on their musical journey,” Shaw said.

No pre-registration for the workshop is required. This free event is brought to the community through funds raised through the Great Fish Community Challenge.