Town Hall Seattle and Northwest Folklife present
The Incredible Kora
Note: Saturday Family Concerts are approximately 60 minutes long.
Get ready for a musical adventure like no other with Sophie Lukacs! Born in Budapest and now living in Montreal, Sophie grew up playing the violin and learning about classical music. But when she traveled to Africa, she discovered a magical instrument called the kora, traditionally played only by men in the Mandingue culture. Determined to learn, Sophie found a kora master in New York City and eventually moved to Mali to study the instrument for seven years. Now, she is one of the few women in the world who plays the kora, and she even writes her own music.
At this family concert, Sophie will take you on an interactive journey with her kora, performing a unique mix of her own songs, traditional Mandingue pieces, and Hungarian folk tunes. You’ll not only hear the kora’s beautiful sounds and rhythms but also have the chance to dive deeper into its rich history. The audience will be invited to participate, and you may even get to try your hand at playing the kora yourself! Bring your musical curiosity, ask questions, and discover the magic of this extraordinary instrument.
Sophie will sing in English, French, Hungarian, and Bambara, while the music tells stories from across the globe. Don’t miss this fun, family-friendly concert where you’ll groove along and learn something new!
As with all of our Saturday Family Concerts, this event is free for ages 22 and under.
The Winter/Spring portion of Saturday Family Concerts is presented in partnership with Northwest Folklife.