Perhaps no local group represents the global aim of this weekend’s Ethnic Expo international festival any better than the Cummins Diversity Choir.
The volunteer ensemble, formed last year to celebrate and echo much of the same joy of cultural diversity as Expo, made its debut at the 2017 festival. And the exuberant 47-member group returns at 5:45 p.m. Friday on the City Hall Plaza. A 30-minute set of perhaps eight songs will include the group’s signature tune, a cover of the call-and-response song “Bonse Aba” from Zambia.
Operations director Carmie Kohl-Smith describes the choir’s mission in simple terms.
“We’re spreading a message of diversity and inclusion through music,” Kohl-Smith said of the ensemble of Cummins Inc. employees representing between seven to nine countries at most performances. “We see this as very important — bringing all the different cultures together. When see all these nationalities together, sometimes singing in different languages, then it acts as something like a welcome to everyone in the audience.”
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The group, under the artistic direction of Robin Macheel, most recently earned a strong ovation at an Exhibit Columbus symposium workshop at North Christian Church, now the group’s weekly rehearsal space.
The 35th annual festival features a broad range of local and regional performers, an array of cuisine to suit nearly any taste, and new coordinator Katherine Dunn eagerly awaiting the fun. She and her committee have made some changes, such as substituting the live music of Flat Earth, boasting its own links with varied nations, for fireworks on Saturday night.
“We’re trying to make Ethnic Expo a zero-waste event,” said Dunn, who official title is project specialist with the city of Columbus. “And fireworks are not really considered environmentally friendly.”
Native Columbus electric violinist Cathy Morris could be described as something of a firecracker when she allows her music to take hold. She’s prepping a collection of French tunes to link with the host nation of France for her appearances on both Friday and Saturday.
In fact, she jokingly affected a humorous French accent during a recent phone chat from her Indianapolis home.
“The violin and jazz violin are uber-French,” she said, adding that her set probably will include songs such as “Under Paris Skies.”
“I still call myself musically promiscuous,” said Morris, whose past Expo appearances were with her full band. “That means I immerse myself in a variety of cultures.”
One of Morris’ former groups, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, will perform twice on Saturday evening under the direction of Josh Goodman. That performance with a scaled-down ensemble includes a creative surprise among its set that includes the French piece “Bolero.” The musical angle fits perfectly for the orchestra that features several members with French ties via their work with the France-based Faurecia.
Plus, the volunteer symphony hopes the appearance helps boost publicity for its season-opening concert Oct. 21 at The Commons.
“This is really perfect timing to help get the word out just a little bit,” Goodman said. “And it can be another way to get more people interested (in playing) in the orchestra.”
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FRIDAY
Noon – 1:30 p.m. – Traveler’s Dream – City Hall Plaza
5:45 – 6:15 p.m. – Cummins Diversity Choir – City Hall Plaza
6:45 – 7:45 p.m. – Salaam, City Hall Plaza
8:15 – 8:30 p.m – CanCan Dancers, City Hall Plaza
8:00 – 10 p.m. – Cathy Morris, biergarten
9:00 – 100 p.m. – Mr. GL – City Hall Plaza
Children’s Activities
4 – 4:30 p.m. – French Story Time and Craft Presented by Columbus Indiana Accueil, French Village Stage
5 – 7 p.m. – BSCS World Language Department, children’s tent
SATURDAY
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Parade on Washington Street
Noon – 12:45 pm – Southern Indiana Pipes and Drums, City Hall steps
1 – 2 p.m. – Steel Away – City Hall Plaza
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. – Route 161 Happy Wanderers, City Hall Plaza
4 – 4:45 p.m. – Columbus Got Talent winner, City Hall Plaza
6 – 6:15 p.m. – Columbus Symphony Orchestra, corner of First and Washington Street
6:30 – 7 p.m. – Columbus Symphony Orchestra, City Hall Plaza
8 – 10 p.m. – Flat Earth, City Hall Plaza
8 – 10 p.m. – Cathy Morris, biergarten
Children’s Activities
2 – 4 p.m. – kidscommons French Inventor Lesson and Craft, children’s tent
4 – 4:30 p.m. – French Story Time/Craft Presented by Columbus Indiana Accueil, French Village Stage
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. – Face Painting Presented by First Financial Bank, children’s tent
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