YEARNINGS. MUSIC THAT KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES. | Multicultural Music

Yearnings is a powerful community gathering centered around a simple, yet profound truth: while our languages, rhythms, and faiths may differ, music offers a universal bridge—connecting us to one another and to something greater than ourselves.

The concert assembles a diverse cast of all-star musicians to share spiritual music from their traditions: Black Spiritual, Carnatic (Hindu), Jewish, Native American, and Sufi. In this time of longing for connections, Yearnings offers us moments of unity and serves as a vital reminder of our common humanity.

A collaborative effort by Florence Congregational Church, Beit Ahavah Reform Synagogue, Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity, and Dream Up Events.

THE MUSICIANS

Balraj Balasubrahmaniyan, voice

'Balu' began music lessons with his father, D. Balraj, and subsequently studied under several teachers, including T. Brinda and T. Viswanathan. He has collected numerous awards for vocal music from a range of Indian musical organizations. He is a regular performer on All India Radio and Doordarshan television,. He has also created several compositions of a 2nd-century epic for acclaimed dancer and choreographer Narthaki Natara. He holds a Ph.D. in Music from the University of Madras and is Adjunct Assistant Professor in Music at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT.

"Balu' Balasubrahmaniyan, South Indian singer

Richie Barshay, percussion

Richie began drumming inside kitchen cabinets at an early age, and hasn't stopped. For his work with Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Esperanza Spalding, The Klezmatics, and others, he's been dubbed "a major rhythm voice on the rise" by Downbeat magazine, and “a major innovator who also knows how to have fun” by The Guardian. He’s also performed with Natalie Merchant, Bobby McFerrin, Lee Konitz, Pete Seeger, and for the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical The Band’s Visit. He can be heard on over 100 recordings including his Sanctuary, featuring Chick Corea and Homework, featuring Herbie Hancock.

Gloria Matlack, voice, percussion

Founder of the after school educational program, Twice as Smart, Gloria is recognized as a teacher, artist, and humanitarian. Her music career began at the age of five singing and playing hand drums in her mother's family choir . She soon became the official rhythm keeper of the Robinson Singers and has been singing and drumming ever since. She has led workshops throughout the United States, including at the United Nations. According to Ms. Matlock, "the healing power of the drums and the inspiring melodies of her ancestors' Spiritual Songs are gifts of history that speak to the soul and should be shared."

Genevieve Rose, bass

Genevieve is a first-call acoustic bassist of the Pioneer Valley who performs frequently throughout New England. She has appeared at the Kennedy Center as part of their Women in Jazz series, directs the jazz ensemble at Smith College in Northampton, MA, and teaches instrumental music at Orchard Hill School in South Windsor, CT. Rose has been a faculty member of UMass’s Jazz in July Summer Music Programs since 1997. She holds master's degrees from Western New England College and American International College.

Umer Piracha, vocals

Umer Piracha is a Sufi vocalist and sound artist whose work invites deep spiritual presence and emotional resonance. Raised in the Sufi city of Multan, Pakistan, and mentored within a 700-year Qawwali lineage, Umer blends South Asian devotional traditions with contemporary sonic and contemplative practices. Now based in New York City, he has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and been featured on NPR. His Resonance of Grace project creates immersive soundbaths rooted in sacred music, and his collaborations with Harvard Divinity School explore the role of sound in spiritual healing. He also leads Falsa (@falsamusic), a transcultural collective bridging World, Jazz, Sufi aesthetics, and global improvisation.

Justin Beatty is a multi-disciplinary artist of Native American (Ojibwe, Saponi) & African-American descent. He is a well-known Native American intertribal powwow singer in New England and founding member of Urban Thunder, a powwow drum group for which he is drum-keeper & lead singer. Urban Thunder has been host drum at various powwows including Harvard, UMass-Amherst, North American Indian Center of Boston (NAICOB), UMass-Boston, and the Mass Center for Native American Awareness (MCNAA). They have also been featured in the movie "Crooked Arrows" & the video game "BioShock: Infinite". Justin also sings with the Iron River Singers, Rez Dogs, and, on occasion, the Mystic River Singers.

Justin C. Beatty, vocals

Justin C Beatty, Native American songleader

Adam Matlock, Accordion

With Special Guests

Amit Kavthekar, Tabla

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Michael Nix, Guitar, Banjo

Kevin Sharpe, piano, music director

Surrounded by his mother's Gospel pianist, his brother’s Funk bands, and his father’s Jazz collection, Kevin began his musical career as a child singing in his church choir. A graduate of Umass, he studied voice with Dr. Horace C. Boyer and improvisation with Yusef Lateef. He has performed and recorded with renowned artists such as Archie Shepp, Charles Greenlee, Steve Turré John Blake, Betty Harris, and others. A New England Urban Music Award winner, Kevin is a Professor of Music at STCC, an organist at Morning Star Church, and leads both a jazz and gospel ensemble.

Felicia Sloin, voice

Felicia is a singer, educator, and community builder who has explored a range of musical styles from across the globe. Since moving to Western MA, Felicia has dedicated herself to creative work as a Jewish songleader, family entertainer, music teacher, and puppeteer. She is also the founder of an expressive arts summer program, providing children with opportunities for artistic exploration and growth. Felicia is actively cultivating a diverse network of artists to strengthen communities through the power of music and the arts.