Holiday Folk Fair International: Music and dance in abundance at Holiday Folk Fair International

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Dave Amoroso • Ron Sonntag Public Relations

9406 N. 107th St. • Milwaukee, WI 53224

(414) 354-0200, ext. 108 • dave@rspr.com

MILWAUKEE, WI — Entertainers that span the globe will play a major role in the 67th annual Holiday Folk Fair International, America’s premiere multi-cultural festival, to be held Fri., Nov. 19 – Sun., Nov. 21, 2010, at the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park in West Allis, Wis.

The featured performers at the 2010 Folk Fair, performing all three days of the event, are The Queens of Harmony, a six-member, all-female gospel quartet, comprised of Jessie McCullum, Ella Ray, Julia Love Brown, Dorothy Johnson, Joyce Johnson, and Tina Springer. These women sing traditional a cappella gospel songs using a lead singer and three backup singers – without a single instrument. The Queens of Harmony grew to love a cappella gospel as children growing up in the South. They heard this music in their churches and from their families, learned how to sing it, and now are one of the few a cappella gospel quartets in Wisconsin.

In the Queens of Harmony, different singers take turns singing the lead. Julia and Ella sing lead most often, but Tina and Joyce sing lead, too. Dorothy, with her deep baritone voice, also sings lead. Each lead singer brings a different sound to the song and the group. In the Queens of Harmony, all the members take turns singing harmony, as the three backup singers play off what the lead is singing. Because the group has six members, two of the ladies rest their voices while the other four sing.

The Queens of Harmony sing new and old gospel songs, to keep the African-American gospel tradition alive. The oldest songs come from eighteenth century English hymns, particularly hymns written by Dr. Isaac Watts, or songs that have been passed down orally from generation to generation, like “Wade in the Water” or “It’s Me, Oh Lord.” Some of the songs the Queens sing were popular on the radio in the 1940s and 1950s, including “In the Upper Room” and “The Old Ship of Zion.” The Queens have been invited to perform for audiences of all ages in churches, halls, festivals, and at other gospel groups’ anniversary concerts all through the Midwest, Washington, D.C., and even Japan.

Performances in the All Nations Theater include representatives of the African American, Bulgarian, Czech-Slovak, Italian, Polynesian, and Ukrainian groups, plus the Ballet Folklorico Huehuecoyotl, a Mexican dance group from Chicago, returns for the second consecutive year.

The Music Pavilion will once again enable attendees to enjoy a variety of styles including the Bob Breuer Polka Band, the Elegant Gypsies, the Orkestar Sloboda, and Los Jinetes. In addition, a vast array of ethnic groups will perform throughout the day, including Chinese, Croatian, Filipino, Mexican, Polish, and Turkish.

The Young People’s Showcase will feature the dancing talent of young ethnic group members, including Donauschwaben, Norwegian, Serbian-St. Nikola, and Slovak.

The Coffee House provides those in attendance the opportunity to enjoy a cup of coffee, espresso, or tea and baked goods, such as Italian biscotti or a Scottish scone, while listening to talented musicians from throughout the world. Acts scheduled to perform include Lupita Bejar (Spanish), Tuuletargad (Estonian), Lekspel (Scandinavian), and Repertoire (Filipino).

Produced by the International Institute of Wisconsin, Holiday Folk Fair International celebrates the cultural heritage of the people living in southeastern Wisconsin. This year’s theme, “Celebrate the Culture of Peace,” will allow Fair-goers the opportunity to explore the ways in which music, food, dance, and art enhance racial, cultural, and ethnic cooperation.

Special attractions at this year’s event include the “Art Beyond Borders” and “Invisible in the City” photographic displays, the International Chess Academy, bonsai, and anime.

The three-day event features the All Nations Theater with traditional music and dance, the World Cafe offering traditional dishes, the International Stage where young people perform their ethnic dances, the Music Pavilion with a variety of musical styles, Heritage Lane with unique traditions and customs through interactive exhibits, the International Bazaar where cultural artifacts create a unique shopping experience, and the Callen Construction Cooking Demonstration Stage featuring local chefs preparing traditional cuisine.

Holiday Folk Fair International will also host a United States Citizenship Naturalization Ceremony Sat., Nov. 20, at 10:30 a.m. and an “Around the World” 5K Run/Walk Sun., Nov. 21 at 9:00 a.m.

Hours on Fri., Nov. 19 are 3 p.m. – 10 p.m.; 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 20; and 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Sun., Nov. 21. Advance tickets will be sold for $8 each at Pick n’ Save locations throughout southeastern Wisconsin. Advance tickets for $8 each as well as family four-packs for $28 can be purchased on-line at http://www.folkfair.org.

Admission at the gate will be $10 for adults; $8 for children ages 6 to 12; children under the age of five will be admitted at no charge. Those 62 and over will be admitted for $8, and all military personnel with a military ID card will be admitted free. Those that bring two non-perishable food items for Hunger task Force will get a $2 discount on a regular adult admission.

For more information on the 2010 Holiday Folk Fair International, visit http://www.folkfair.org or call the International Institute of Wisconsin at 414-225-6220.

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