Newpoli Brings the Joys of Traditional Italian Folk Music To Performance at Colby-Sawyer College

NEW LONDON, N.H. — Colby-Sawyer College will host a concert by Newpoli, a group of alumni musicians from the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory that will perform traditional folk music of southern Italy from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.

Newpoli will perform on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m. in Wheeler Hall at the Ware Campus Center. This event is sponsored by the Olivetti Series Endowment Fund, which provides support for Italian cultural events at Colby-Sawyer. The event is free and open to the public. There will also be a free Italian Vocal Rhythm Workshop with Newpoli on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m. in Wheeler Hall. Those who are interested in this workshop are asked to contact the Campus Activities Office at 526-3759 or email activities@colby-sawyer.edu in order to register by Monday, Feb. 16.

The members of Newpoli have great passion for researching and playing these traditional Italian folk songs, and strive to pass their enthusiasm for this aged and rarely heard music onto their audiences. The group enjoys recounting the ancient stories and rituals described in the songs' lyrics and believes the music they perform deserves more recognition for the beauty and cheer it brings its listeners.

The group, formed in October 2003, consists of singers and a variety of musicians all working together to create a classic Italian sound. Singers Carmen Marsico and Angela Rossi work with Fabio Pirozzolo, who plays a traditional Italian percussion known as the tamorra, as well as percussionist Mike Daillak, accordion player Roberto Cassan, classical guitarist Bjorn Wennas, double bassist Kendall Eddy, flutist Geni Skendo and violinist Megumi Sasaki.

Newpoli has performed at numerous venues such as the Berklee Performance Center, the Boston Public Library, Dante Alighieri Society of Cambridge and Boston's First Night in 2006 and 2007. The debut of their first CD in March 2008 brought Newpoli much attention in the music world, and since then they have been recognized in several major newspapers and magazines.

The Boston Herald wrote that “Newpoli puts a fresh spin on Italian folk tunes,” while Michael Moll from FolkWorld magazine of Germany wrote that “…the talent of the musicians is undoubted...” A unique review from the Boston Globe described seeing Newpoli as “a $10 trip to Europe! Here's a great way to transport yourself to Southern Italy without worrying about the exchange rate or a plane ticket.”

To learn more about Newpoli, visit the group's web site.

Learn about more public events at Colby-Sawyer.

-Michelle L. Buser '09

Michelle L. Buser is a Communications Studies major and an intern in College Communications at Colby-Sawyer College.

Colby-Sawyer, founded in 1837, is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in the scenic Lake Sunapee Region of central New Hampshire. Students learn in small classes through a select array of programs that integrate the liberal arts and sciences with pre-professional experience. Visit us on the World Wide Web at www.colby-sawyer.edu.

Colby-Sawyer College, 541 Main Street, New London, N.H. 03257 (603) 526-3000