Melody Feo Sverko is a math and science teacher, STEM curriculum developer, and talented musician hailing from Bogotá, Colombia, and New Jersey. She plays lead gaita, a flute-like instrument, in the NYC-based band Maraca Bruja, and has spent the past decade immersing herself in the traditional folk music of Colombia. In this episode, Melody speaks about her experience playing the gaita, the music of Ovejas, Colombia, and the project she is working on to protect this music and the masters that keep the tradition alive. The project is entitled Resistencia Sonora, Totumo Seco, and you can find more information and contribute to the project at the following link: Resistencia Sonora

Melody and her friend Daniel (Pan) play at the beginning and end of the conversation (which was a real treat!) and we've also included two pieces performed by master musician, Andrés Narváez.

Music included in episode:

12:27 - Gaita improvisation, performed Melody and Daniel

25:25 - No tengo naa, performed by Andrés Narváez

34:10 - Queremos Paz, performed by Andrés Narváez

45:50 - Gaita improvisation, performed by Melody and Daniel

Sasha Gutiérrez Montaño is an operatic soprano from Cali, Colombia, now living in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated with honors from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá and holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Manhattan School of Music. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her crew started hosting concerts on her stoop in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. This led to creating The Opera Next Door, an independent opera company that aims to share high-quality, immersive productions for new, diverse audiences in unconventional neighborhood spaces. TOND will present an outdoor production of the opera, Così fan tutte, in Brooklyn on May 22 and 23, 2021. Hear all about Sasha's background and the upcoming opera in this episode.

Music included in episode:

3:56 "Come Scoglio" - performed by Sasha Gutiérrez Montaño

9:36 Excerpt from Così fan tutte performed by members of The Opera Next Door

20:27 "Tu Che Di Gel Sei Cinta" performed by Sasha Gutiérrez Montaño