Personnel

Dr. Charles E. Sykes has extensive experience as a music teacher, conductor, performer, and arts administrator. He is Executive Director of the Office of Multicultural Initiatives, Adjunct Professor in IU’s Department of Folklore & Ethnomusicology and the Department of African American & African Diaspora Studies, and a research associate with the Archives of African American Music & Culture. An established authority on the Detroit era of Motown Record Corporation, he has developed a course on the subject.

Professor Mahluli is an accomplished performer, educator, composer, producer and engineer who received his education from prestigious institutions including Florida State University, Berklee College of Music, and Northwestern University. He has contributed work to the Sankofa African Dance Company conferences and to recordings such as the charitable and poetic "Write to Heal." Professor Mahluli has performed and recorded with artists such as Erykah Badu, members of BET’s International Association of African American Music, and the Stanley Paul Orchestra from the Oprah Winfrey show. These credentials, along with his enthusiasm and passion for classic soul and contemporary Black popular music make Professor Mahluli the perfect leader for Indiana University’s most vibrant and "funky" performing group.

Iris Rosa is a Professor at Indiana University, Bloomington in the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies, and the Director of the Indiana University African American Dance Company. Her specializations are teaching and choreography from the perspective of the African American and African Diaspora. Ms. Rosa has worked, studied and taught with the Ghana Dance Ensemble, from Ghana and Afric Azolou from the Ivory Coast, and studied dance in Puerto Rico and in Havana, Matanzas and Guantanamo, Cuba. She has been a choreographer for musicals at the Phoenix Theatre, Civic Theatre, American Cabaret Theatre and Theatre on the Square. She has also worked on international and community projects at the historical Madame Walker Theatre Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ms. Rosa is also the director of Sancocho: Music and Dance College, a performing ensemble which focuses research on African derived music and dance from the Caribbean and Latin America and Seda Negra/Black Silk Dance Company. Courses include, African American Dance Company, Dance in the African Diaspora, Black Dance History.

As a composer, arranger, pianist and choral director, Keith McCutchen has received numerous commissions and grants for his religious choral music as well as his original jazz compositions and arrangements. Under a national endowment grant in 1998, McCutchen was commissioned to write a composition combining the elements of gospel and jazz. The composition is entitled "Spiritual Medley", the piece, written for a community choir in Kentucky, was accompanied by legendary jazz artists, including pianist Kenny Barron, the late saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, bassist Richard Davis, and Carl Allen on drums.

As a jazz pianist, McCutchen has performed with such artists as Mel Torme, Doc Severinson, Diane Schurr, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Eric Gravatt. His compositions have been recorded by The American Spiritual Ensemble, The St. Olaf Choir (Anton Armstrong, director) and The St. Olaf Gospel Choir, trumpeter Michael Suman, and the Twin Cities Gospel Choir. McCutchen’s choral works have been published by Earthsongs Publishing, and he has recently completed commissions for The University of St. Thomas and VocalEssence. Keith McCutchen has traveled and performed internationally as a pianist and arranger with the American Spiritual Ensemble, and as a cruise ship musical director.

Joii studied here at Indiana University where she received her BA and MA degrees in African American Studies with a music concentration and Arts Administration, respectively. She brings a background in African American music and culture to her position. Her journey through the Institute began as a student in the Choral Ensemble. Later as a graduate assistant, she was Booking Agent for all three ensembles. In addition to her post as Performance Manger for the African American Arts Institute, Joii currently serves as Director of Performance Development for Art Salad Productions. The conglomerate of her experiences has allowed her to become an expert in event booking and planning, drafting contractual agreements, marketing, tour design and artist development and management. Joii’s skills have supported numerous events featuring James Brown, The Temptations, and Con Funk Shun among others.

Photo credit: Natasha Komoda