A great week in Wisconsin

By Shigeyo Henriquez

On Sunday, September 18th we arrived in Wausau, Wisconsin. Shortly after we checked into the hotel, Barbara Klofstad, Education Director at Wausau Performing Arts Foundation, met us at the hotel lobby and escorted us to a reception at Rib Mountain Historic Chalet.

There we met many community representatives and supporters. They welcomed us with friendly smiles and three kinds of freshly baked apple pies. We enjoyed visiting with everyone and eating the delicious, homemade pies. Wust el Balad played just a little taste of their music for the audience.

Then, on Monday was the first workshop in Wausau at D. C. Everest High School. The workshop started with one full song followed by the introduction of each ensemble member and their instruments. Students were very curious about the oud, a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. It's played like a guitar, but has no frets and sounds quite different. Several other instruments like the tabla, riq, doff and cojon are also very interesting, and we will learn more about these instruments in the following weeks.

At Newman Catholic High School, some students had prepared and presented for us a slideshow presentation about U.S. history. Some students had written poems and asked Wust el Balad to create melodies to go along with the poems. At first I thought it would be a difficult task. How were they going to deal with this request?

A student read their poem a few times over. Hany, the lead singer and song writer, heard the poem and started to play a melody with his guitar like he already knew the song. How? How could he do that?! How talented they are! We all shook our heads in amazement.

Three girls wrote a poem called "Go! Pack! Go!" Hany, not knowing what "Pack" meant just started to strum. After a few tries, it became a great cheering song for the Packers. At the concert "Go! Pack! Go! was played and you can imagine how the crowd really enjoyed it--singing along during the call and response parts of the tune.

Thank you to everyone in Wisconsin who came out on a weeknight to see Wust el Balad in concert! It was truly a great show.

Video: Wust el Balad play Go! Pack! Go! in Wausau, WI

Concert at D. C. Everest High School

Newman Catholic High School performance

Putting melody to the students' lyrics

The Grand Theatre in Wausau, WI