TONY VACCA’S WORLD RHYTHMS — Spectacle and Spectacular!

Tony Vacca, internationally renowned percussionist and composer, presents educational programs that are visually stunning and musically simply astounding. Tony has been performing arts in education programs in schools all over the Northeast for nearly 40 years.

Educational programs range from one-day visits to five-day residencies, professional development, and may conclude with evening community concerts involving students and faculty. Performers range from solo to quintet with a variety of musicians and dancers from the US and abroad. Twice annually Massamba Diop, master tama drummer for Baaba Maal and Black Panther soloist, comes from Senegal, West Africa to tour with Tony.

Tony is known for his balafon and gongs performances in addition to his djembes, dun-dun and tama drum performances. He likes to use his music, spoken word, and rhythm to address topics like cultural diversity and global and social awareness. He enjoys working with students of all ages, and especially middle and high school students.

Tony is a poet, musician, composer, philosopher and educator. Expect a professional, very high-energy music program with audience participation. Tell us your dream vision and we'll work to make it a reality.

“I especially enjoy customizing my skills into a specifically designed set of workshops and concerts that fit your needs and visions. So if you don’t see just what you’re looking for, let’s create it together.” — Tony

“The whole experience — (a specially created residency with Amanda Gorman’s poetry and music) — is getting rave reviews from staff and students!” — Claire Troiano, Educational Administrator, Director, Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, Northampton, MA

TONY’S STORY

Tony Vacca began his career as a gymnastic scholarship student at UMass Amherst. Also a drummer, his mentor suggested he travel to Africa to continue his music education and follow his drumming passion. The rest is history, as they say. Tony fell in love with the balafon and many other African instruments and brings his love and enthusiasm to your students and community.

Tony has performed and/or recorded with pop icon Sting, Jazz legends Don Cherry and Yusuf Lateef, as well as renowned poets, Abiodun Oyewole (of The Last Poets), National Beat Poet Laureate Paul Richmond, and Brooklyn-born poet Tantra Zawadi. Through his Senegal-America Project he has performed with Senegalese artists that include Afro-pop star Baaba Maal, Senegalese Hip-Hop artists Bideew Bou Bess, Rap artists Gokh-bi System, and master of the tama/talking drum, Massamba Diop. Tony's latest project is “The Rescue of Luminous Being” a deep dive into Tony’s world of words.

REFERRALS

Two-Week Percussion Residency
Kristen Neuschaefer, PE, Athletics Director, & DEI Coordinator, Lexington Montessori School, (781) 862-8571x1129  kneuschaefer@lexmontessori.org