Inspired by the Ghanaian Pan African Orchestra, Schenectady’s Pan African Youth Orchestra is led by master drummer, Zorkie Nelson, one of the original members of the original Ghanaian Pan African Orchestra. Instruments are traditional to African music, including the drum, bells, gourd xylophone or gylis, and the flute or atenteben.
The Orchestra meets every Tuesday evening, year round from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at Schenectady’s Electric City Barn, 400 Craig Street. The Orchestra is open to all school-age youth from nine to nineteen. For further information, contact New York Folklore, or email PAYO@nyfolklore.org.