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Since 1996, KoSA Music has been transforming the lives of travelers who want to learn in an in-depth and personalized way about the culture, the historical traditions, the music, the dance traditions and the culinary practices of a particular country. KoSA, a Montreal-based events company specializes in creating these first-class purposeful travel trips and after nearly three decades of experience, KoSA has a well-established reputation of expertly guiding participants to experience such places as Cuba, China, the US, and Canada.
This summer, the KoSA team took their expertise to the picturesque country of Italy for an unforgettable adventure. The director and founder of KoSA Music, Aldo Mazza, an internationally recognized drummer and percussionist, along with his musician wife, Dr. Jolán Kovács, were the hosts of this incredible event. Participants from 20 to 80 years young, came from the US, Canada, the UK, France and Brazil to soak up all facets of this unique Southern Italian culture.
This week-long event took place July 15-22 in the little village of Petrizzi, in the province of Catanzaro in the Calabrian region of Italy. Participants stayed at a magnificent 15th century restored convent: “Borgo del Convento” where they were wined & dined Italian style.
The program comprised of various hands-on classes which were suitable to people of all ages and levels of ability. One such class was on learning to cook traditional Southern Italian food. Master chef, Flavio Seminaroti, oozed passion and pride when explaining to his students how important the choice of flour is in making succulent fresh pasta.
Other classes included learning the fascinating rhythms of the tamborello which was expertly taught by the esteemed master frame drummer Emidio Ausiello. These hypnotizing and lively rhythms went hand in hand with the dance classes taught by the highly talented Mariagrazia Lettieri. Even though many students had little or no prior dance experience, all students quickly embraced the experience and took part in her classes with great fervor. Another great workshop offered throughout the week included the classes of the esteemed contemporary composer Luigi Morleo who shared his knowledge of the historical evolution of traditional to modern styles of composition and performance practices of Southern Italian and Balkan music and rhythms. And as KoSA Music is truly a borderless community of artists, the KoSA Faculty in Italy was joined by the incomparable singer and percussionist Vincent De’Jon Parrette – aka Vinx. Vinx offered an eye-opening perspective on improvisation and storytelling through music and the arts. While not being of Italian heritage like the rest of the Faculty, Vinx was able to demonstrate that storytelling and improvisation are above all a human experience that transcends all borders. This was also true for KoSA’s director Aldo Mazza who was actually born in Southern Italy and who also specializes in the music of Cuba. In fact, Mazza shared his expertise of Cuban rhythms teaching from his highly acclaimed method book “ Cuban Rhythms for Drumset and Percussion: The Essentials” and he and Vinx shared the stage at the event’s final concert mixing Cuban, African, and Italian rhythms in a memorable concert which also included all the participants up on stage playing in the finale number.
Plans are already underway to make this trip an annual experience so if you missed it this time, mark your calendars for 2025!