Michela Musolino
About Michela
Traditional & Contemporary Mezzogiorno Music
Memphis, Tenn.
Accompanied by Connor Marks of Washington, D.C.
Listen to Michela Musolino in her sixth appearance at Festa Italiana at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 20, in Apex, N.C.
Sicilian-American songstress Michela Musolino is dedicated to unearthing and sharing the rich, storied music of her ancestral island. Inspired as a child by the sound of her grandparents speaking Sicilian in their New Jersey kitchen, Michela made it her life’s mission to interpret and revitalize songs expressing the joys and woes of daily life for countless generations of Sicilians. Accompanying herself on the tamburo, a frame drum typically played by women, Michela has enthralled audiences globally, in spaces ranging from temples to honky tonks to Rockefeller Center. With one foot rooted firmly in tradition and the other stepping enthusiastically into cross-cultural collaborations, Musolino is an alluring tour de force with a voice that infuses the modern world with the timeless wisdom, humor, and earthy essence of Sicilian culture.
Learn more about Michaela here.
Ahead of her Festa performance, listen to her music here and here.
About Accompanist Connor Marks
Chicago born and raised, Connor Marks is a Washington, D.C.–based multi-instrumentalist with a burning passion for the diverse musical traditions of Italy. Specializing in the elegant ballo liscio mandolin styles of the early 20th century, as well as the fiery folk dance music of southern Italy that dates back centuries, Connor brings audiences into a world where history and celebration meet.
A folklorist at heart—currently serving on the technical staff of the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival—he explores a wide range of instruments, including the Neapolitan bowl-back mandolin, marranzano (jaw harp), guitar, homemade southern Italian flutes, and frame drum tambourines. His performances pull from the spirit of the strolling musicians of the past, blending multi-instrumental showmanship with a modern energy that invites listeners to participate, dance, and connect.