Schenectady's West African Youth Orchestra with Zorkie Nelson

A group of teenagers sit with drums between their legs in a semi circle. Zorkie Nelson sits directly in the middle

About the Program

The Schenectady/West African Youth Orchestra with Zorkie Nelson performs a repertoire of both composed and traditional musics using traditional West African instruments (drums, bells, gourd xylophone, bamboo flutes). It was formed and Initiated by Ghanaian master drummer, Zorkie Nelson, who provides teaching materials, instruments, repertoire, and coaching. The Schenectady/West African Youth Orchestra with Zorkie Nelson was initiated through an Individual Artists’ grant from the New York State Council on the Arts. The orchestra is open to any interested school-aged members. Rehearsals are each Tuesday from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Adeline Wright Graham Clubhouse of the Boys and Girls Club. Information about the Boys and Girls Club of Schenectady, and how to participate, can be found HERE

Interested in joining? No prior experience is necessary. Please visit the pages for the Boys and Girls Club of Schenectady or contact New York Folklore at info@nyfolklore.org. You can hear the group in a 2025 performance here: LISTEN

This innovative musical project is modeled after and inspired by the 28-piece orchestra that was founded by Ghanaian musician and composer, Nana Danso Abiam. The founding mission of the original Pan African Orchestra was to perform Afrocentric music comprised of African traditional melodies and rhythms. The Pan African orchestra in Ghana recruited traditional musicians from the Accra region of Ghana to participate and its repertoire includes compositions by the renowned composer, music educator, and orchestra’s founder, Nana Danso Abiam.

Zorkie Nelson, a resident of Schenectady and a master drummer from Ghana, was an original member of this orchestra of traditional musical instruments. He performed with the group from 1988-1997. Instruments in the Orchestra include atenteben (bamboo flutes), traditional hand drums, gylis (a traditional gourd xylophone), bells and other percussion instruments.

The Schenectady/West African Youth Orchestra is funded in part by the Schenectady Foundation, the Schenectady County Youth Bureau, the Arts and Culture Grant Program of Schenectady County, and the New York State Council on the Arts.