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Cultural Attractions Committee

The Cultural Attractions Committee brings the best of performing arts to the campus community. The committee presents the finest diverse programs in the areas of dance and music. Past events include South African performers Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Israeli violinist Itzhak Perlman, Irish troupe Gaelic Storm, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, the Vienna Boys Choir, the Moscow Festival Ballet, and much more. Students gain experience working with agents in the performing arts, publicizing large events, and meeting performers.

CAC Presents: Idan Rachiel Project

The Idan Raichel Project burst onto Israel’s music scene in 2002, changing the face of Israeli population music and offering a message of love and tolerance that strongly resonated in a region of the world where headlines are too often dominated by conflict. With an enchanting blend of African, Latin American, Caribbean, Ethiopian, and Middle Eastern sound fused with Hebrew texts, the Idan Raichel Project has become one of the most unexpected success stories in Israeli music history.

While most of the Israeli labels considered his work to be too “ethnic” and too outside the norms of the formulaic Israeli pop scene, one A&R man, Gadi Gidor at Helicon Records, instantly heard the potential in Idan’s work and quickly signed him on to the roster. The subsequent album was an immediate hit. The haunting Ethiopian chorus of the first single, “Bo’ee” (Come With Me), sounded completely unlike anything most Israelis had heard before, yet, coupled with Idan’s richly poetic lyrics of love and devotion and sophisticated production techniques, the single was a huge success. The album went on to sell over 150,000 copies (triple platinum) and firmly established Idan as a new type of Israeli pop star.

In the fall of 2006, the record label Cumbancha released the music of the Idan Raichel Project worldwide, bringing even more renown to this inspirational collective. Billboard Magazine called their international release “One of the most fascinating titles to emerge in world music this year…a multi-ethnic tour de force.” The New York Times selected the album as one of the top world music releases of the year, and media from Peru to Portugal was unanimous in their praise. The album also received a nomination as one of the best world music albums of the year by the BBC Radio 3 Award for World Music.

The event will be held on November 9, 2009 at 7:30 pm in the Cox Auditorium, Alumni Memorial Building. Tickets will be $5 for UT students, $20 for faculty, and $25 for the community. They can be purchased through knoxvilletickets.com, by phone at (865) 656-4444, or in person at the University Center Central Ticket Office.



Posted by CAC - Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009

Cultural Attractions Committee

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Contact CAC

Student Activities Office
305 University Center
1502 Cumberland Avenue
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
Email: cac@utk.edu

Advisor: Ashleigh Moyer
Email: amoyer@utk.edu