The University of Pittsburgh campus will come alive with the music of many cultures at Pitt’s second annual Festival of World Music from 2 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Ballroom of the William Pitt Union. The festival is free and open to the public and families are welcome.

From 2 through 6 p.m., Japanese, African, and Indonesian groups will perform, including Pitt’s African Music and Dance Ensemble and the University Gamelan. Attendees can sample ethnic foods from these regions of the world.

Pitt’s Festival of World Music reflects the growing emphasis on performance within the Department of Music’s ethnomusicology program. Students are encouraged to play in a variety of ensembles to gain greater insights into the music of other cultures. In Pitt’s popular Introduction to World Music course, students have a hands-on opportunity to learn a variety of musical traditions taught at Pitt. The Department of Music offers ethnomusicology courses on the music of the United States, Africa, Latin America, East Asia, and Eastern Europe, as well as a popular music course titled Global Hip-Hop.

Immediately following the Festival of World Music, Pitt’s Carpathian Ensemble will engage attendees in a Slavic Dance Party. Participants will be able to learn songs and dances from the Carpathian and Balkan regions of Eastern Europe. The Festival of World Music takes place from 6–8 p.m. in the William Pitt Union Ballroom.