In late 2018, Richard Gannaway, our co-founder, travelled 6000 miles from his hometown in Asheville, North Carolina to Abakan, Siberia, where these beautiful children, students at the renowned Kenel Music School sang their hearts out for “Nashu”, the opening track on our spring 2021 release, Kutumba.
The trip to Siberia was coordinated by longtime AO collaborator, Siberian multi-instrumentalist and composer Nadishana (centre left in the image) who grew up just a few miles from Abakan. Without him the trip would not have been possible. Nadishana performed on our two previous releases, Asha and Hokulea, and it was an honour to work with him again.
AO Foundation International is now officially certified as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Break out the champagne! …Now let’s get on with the business of sheltering, clothing, feeding and educating these little lanterns from around the planet, some of whom you will hear on AOMUSIC’s upcoming album “Hokule’a”!
