The West Virginia University African Ensemble, directed by Paschal Yao Younge, performed at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Mississippi Saturday, Nov. 8, with the newly formed Ole Miss African Drum and Dance Ensemble.

During the free concert, the ensemble performed a program of traditional dances from Ghanka, Senegal, Guinea, Togo, Nigeria, Benin, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa. According to Younge, they received many standing ovations.

In addition, Younge and members of the African Ensemble conducted a master class earlier in the day at the Ford Center, during which the public was invited to bring their own drums and other instruments.

Performers included musicians Keith Moone, Zack George, Gordon Nunn, John Meriwether, Shawn Robert, Sean Haleem and Younge. Dancers were Michele Copeland, Ashley Reynolds, Laura Lee Colebank, Dawn Mishra, Jennifer Douglas, Angela Powell, Aniruddha Logan, Andrew Pollick, Andrew Rutledge, Dave Longfellow and Brett Wiewiora.

Younge, who is director of the World Music Center at WVU , also directs the African Music Studies program and Annual International Summer Programs in World Music and Dance.

A native of Ghana, West Africa, he holds a professional music education diploma from the National Academy of Music, Winneba, Ghana; a special advanced diploma in African music and dance, with distinction, from the University of Ghana, Legon; and a master of music in music education, and doctor of education in curriculum and instruction from WVU . Prior to coming to WVU , he taught at the University of Ghana, where he served as principal music instructor and director of several ensembles, including brass bands, choirs and other instrumental groups.

Younge is a specialist in African brass band music, a clinician in sub?Saharan African music and dance, and an advocate of multicultural music education. He has presented lectures, workshops, clinics, performances and seminars at festivals and conferences throughout the United States and in Canada, Cuba, France, Ghana, South Korea, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire and Taiwan. He has also presented workshops at more than 100 schools and colleges in West Virginia.