Arts and Entertainment

2019-20 Kulkarni Cultural Series performers and dates announced

Performers for the 2019-2020 Kulkarni Cultural Series include Latin pop songstress Gina Chavez, female a cappella quintet Nobuntu, and the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company. Credit: Penn State Harrisburg / Penn StateCreative Commons

Penn State Harrisburg is excited to announce the schedule of performers to be featured in this year’s Kulkarni Cultural Series.

The series begins with multiethnic Latin pop songstress Gina Chavez performing on at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. Chavez is a 12-time Austin Music Award winner. Her latest studio (EP) release, “Lightbeam,” was born from her journey to find and marry the love of her life. Her previous album, “UpRooted,” topped Amazon and Latin iTunes charts, and her NPR “Tiny Desk” concert boasts close to one million views. The concert will be followed by a free outdoor “Fiesta for All” party under a tent at the east side of the Student Enrichment Center.

Nobuntu, a female a cappella quintet from Zimbabwe, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13. The group brings the exhilarating sound of traditional and contemporary African music, ranging from folk tunes to Afro Jazz to Gospel. The word “nobuntu” describes an African concept that values humbleness, love, unity and family from a woman’s perspective. Pure voices, minimalist percussion, and authentic dance movement make this an evening to treasure. A free coffee and sweets post-show reception sponsored by the Penn State Harrisburg Diversity and Educational Equity Committee (DEEC) will finish the evening.

As part of Penn State Harrisburg’s celebration of the Asian New Year, the Kulkarni Cultural series will present the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company in their performance of “Song of the Phoenix” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4. “Song of the Phoenix” is a spectacular production of dazzling props, colorful costumes, mesmerizing music, fantastic acrobatics and lively dance. The production features original and unique choreography by Nai-Ni Chen, whose repertoire seamlessly blends ancient rituals and modern ideas. There will also be a post-show talkback with a free tea and Asian treats reception.

All performances will be held in the Mukund S. Kulkarni Theatre on campus. Tickets for the shows are $15, with $5 tickets for Penn State Harrisburg students. Tickets and information can be found at harrisburg.psu.edu/boxoffice.

The cultural series provides Penn State Harrisburg the opportunity to bring national and international performances to campus annually, allowing the community to experience a variety of different cultures through the arts.

The series is made possible thanks to more than $1 million in gifts from several donors in honor of Kulkarni, who retired in 2018 as chancellor of the Harrisburg campus.

Last Updated September 3, 2020