VISITING ARTIST SERIES Scheduling for Schools

Quad City Arts’ Visiting Artist Series is so excited to present eleven artists from across the U.S. and around the world for in-person outreach activities for your students! Feel free to share this information with your colleagues and administration and help our mission of enriching the quality of life in the Quad Cities region through the arts.

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​Steps for scheduling

• Visiting artist engagements are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Scroll down to see the roster of artists for the 2023-2024 season, their residency dates, a brief description, and link to their website for more information.
• Then scroll further to review and complete the scheduling form. Read the entire scheduling form carefully, and ensure you understand all instructions before submitting.
• You may request visits from multiple artists to your school during the season
• After the scheduling form is submitted, the “Preferred Scheduling Contact” will be emailed with a confirmation for the school.
• Prior to the scheduled performance, the contact person will receive a final confirmation email with details of the visit and how to prepare for the performance.
• We will send a post-performance survey afterward to gather details like attendance, artist preparation and quality, plus comments about the artist.
• Invoices will be sent following the engagement. Payment is due 30 days from the receipt of invoice.
• If you have questions about invoicing, payment, or the fee, contact Performing Arts Director Margot Day at mday@quadcityarts.com to discuss options. We try to make these visits as accessible as we can.

​Information about our performances

• We do charge a subsidized fee of $250 for each performance; we work very hard to keep this cost as low as possible.
• Artists are generally flexible and able to collaborate with you on the best outreach for your students, whether that’s an all-school performance, a workshop, a masterclass, or Q&A.
• Artists can perform in a variety of settings, such as a classroom, a gym, or an auditorium.
• Performances last about 45 minutes to an hour
• Artists will travel to your school and may require equipment (chairs, music stands, microphone and a PA system, etc). We ask that you provide a volunteer to greet them and help them set up.

See below for a list of our artists for Fall 2023-Spring 2024, listed in order of residency dates.
The Scheduling Request Form can be found below the artist listings.

2023/2024 Visiting Artist Series Line-up

To See These Artists Live, view our Events Page

Saadia Faruqi

Pakistani American author
IN RESIDENCE JULY 10-12

Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American author and interfaith activist. She writes the popular children’s early reader series “Yasmin” and other books for children, including chapter books, graphic novels, and picture books. Her middle grade novels include “A Place At The Table” co-written with Laura Shovan (a Sydney Taylor Notable 2021), “A Thousand Questions” (a South Asia Book Award Honor 2021) and “Yusuf Azeem Is Not A Hero”. Saadia is editor-in-chief of Blue Minaret, a magazine for Muslim art, poetry and prose, and was featured in Oprah Magazine in 2017 as a woman making a difference in her community. She lives in Houston, TX with her husband and children.​
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saadiafaruqi.com

​ADAAWE  

West African fusion band
IN RESIDENCE OCT. 2-7 

Mixing West African roots, Gospel harmonies and American funk, women-led ensemble ADAAWE brews up a contemporary global fusion. Its dynamic members bring their diverse percussive and harmonic flavors to the stage, with an intoxicating energy that captivates audiences everywhere.  

Hailing from Kenya, Morocco, Israel, Panama and across the United States, the talented musicians of ADAAWE embody intercultural understanding and a celebration of music from around the globe. Through their music, they also build community, promote women’s rights and social and environmental justice. ​

adaawemusic.com

SCHOOLSCULPTURES 

Mobile sculptures
IN RESIDENCE OCT. 23-27

Kevin Reese introduces students to the art of moving sculptures (mobiles) and their key design element -- balance. Working in groups, students each make 1 -2 pieces for a mobile from classroom art supplies and materials provided by Kevin. Students work cooperatively to solve how to balance the pieces as they assemble their mobiles. The mobiles are then installed in the classroom for all to enjoy.​
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schoolsculptures.com

Native Pride Productions  ​

Native American dance and music
IN RESIDENCE DEC. 4-9

Larry Yazzie is a Native American (Meskwaki/Dine) and charismatic performing artist, actor. He is also the founder of the Native Pride Dancers of Native Pride Productions based now in Jacksonville, Florida. Larry is also a Fancy, Northern Style Traditional, and Eagle dancer. Each of these styles of Native American Dance has a unique look and tells a beautiful story through movement and music. Larry shares stories and teaches about traditional Native American as well as contemporary styles of dance blended with traditional Native American and mainstream music during his solo and troupe performances. 

Larry Yazzie is a proud member of the Meskwaki Nation in Central Iowa and is a respected member of the community. He is a two-time world champion Fancy dancer (Schemitzun Powwow) and has been awarded top honors at powwows across the United States and Canada. 
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nativeprideproductions.com

Jaerv + The OK Factor  ​

Swedish folk quintet + American strings duo
IN RESIDENCE JAN 22-26   

Minneapolis, MN-based string duo The OK Factor, and award-winning Swedish quintet Jaerv, present their program, Traditions. In 2017, the bands’ musical worlds collided after The OK Factor opened for Jaerv at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. There was an immediate connection between them, grounded in a mutual love and respect for one another's talent, rhythmic intricacies, inspiring melodic ornamentation, fascinating instrumentation, and - yes, musical traditions. After shared performances and the study of traditional Swedish and American music throughout their tour of Sweden, a natural and organic partnership has developed between The OK Factor and Jaerv that is felt, seen, and heard by their audiences, both in Sweden and in the US.
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theokfactor.com

AMIRAH
​SACKETT

Hip-hop dancer/choreographer 
IN RESIDENCE FEB 5-10   ​​

An internationally recognized hip-hop dancer, choreographer, and teacher, Amirah Sackett explores and embodies her Muslim American identity through combining hip-hop movement and Islamic themes. She is widely known for her creation of the choreography and performance group known as, “We’re Muslim, Don’t Panic”, which reached viral video fame after being featured on POPSUGAR Celebrity, The Huffington Post, AJ+, and Upworthy. Sackett was honored to be a TEDx speaker, guest lecturer at Harvard University, and a cultural diplomat with the U.S. State Department in Bangladesh and Malaysia. ​
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amirahsackett.com

JESSICA
​FICHOT 

Songwriter and accordionist
IN RESIDENCE FEB 19-23   

L.A. based chanteuse, songwriter and accordionist Jessica Fichot is a lot like her hometown of Paris: French at heart, but with a soul that's truly international. Drawing from her multi-ethnic French / Chinese / American upbringing, her music fuses styles and languages, taking the listener on a twisting journey out of the French chanson tradition, into the lands of gypsy jazz, 1940s Chinese swing, international folk, and into the wilderness of her imagination. Listen to samples of her chansons. 

Recently, Jessica started working on another different but related passion of hers: creating music and sound effects for indie video games. With over 100 children's songs published in a dozen countries, Jessica also composes music for many children's educational programs. ​
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jessicasongs.com

TOMAS AND
​THE LIBRARY LADY   ​

Bilingual musical theater 
IN RESIDENCE MARCH 4-8

Tomás loves stories. As the young son of migrant farm workers, he spends the summer with his family following the crops north from Texas to Iowa, passing long days in the fields listening to his grandfather tell stories. When a chance encounter brings him to the local Carnegie Library, he meets the “Library Lady” who recognizes his thirst for knowledge and encourages him to read. By the end of the summer, Tomás has great pride in becoming his family’s new storyteller, the guidance of a colorful mentor, and a lifelong love of reading. 

A bilingual musical, based on the beloved book about the true story of the Mexican-American author and educator Tomás Rivera, who became the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system. This inspirational production shows how reading and education -- and self-esteem-- can make anything possible. ​
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holdenarts.org

GROSSE
​ISLE 

Traditional music from Quebec and Ireland
IN RESIDENCE MARCH 18-23

The traditional music trio Grosse Isle was born out of the “absolutely magical” collaboration between three exceptional musicians from Quebec and Ireland (The Irish Music Magazine). Together, Sophie Lavoie du Lac-St-Jean (fiddle, piano, vocal), André Marchand the legendary (guitar, vocal), and Fiachra O’Regan, Irish champion (uilleann pipes, whistle, banjo) shine with their rich and enveloping music. The band name refers to the story of the mass arrival of the Irish in the 19th century, on Grosse Île in the St. Lawrence River, as they fled the Great Famine. It is a striking encounter between two peoples and two cultures. Fusing Irish and Québécois repertoire with original compositions, Grosse Isle presents pieces from the album The Bonesetter as well as many surprises on stage! The harmonious blend of the two cultures, the authenticity and the immense talent of the artists give a sublime result! From laments to more rhythmic songs, the performance is varied and showcases the 1001 colors of the band.​
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grosse-isle.com

Wanees Zarour 

Palestinian-American composer and multi- instrumentalist 
IN RESIDENCE APRIL 15-20

Wanees Zarour is an award winning Palestinian-American composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist steeped in maqam and jazz music. He is a community leader who believes in creating an environment that is conducive to artistic expression and collective music making. Zarour directs the Middle East Music Ensemble at the University of Chicago, co-directs the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra, and leads 'East Loop,' a septet that explores the intersections between the maqam and jazz traditions. 

Born into a family of musicians, Zarour started his Western classical training on the violin at the age of 7 at the Edward Said Conservatory of Music where he showed extraordinary talent and fast advancement in his musical education. A few years after, Zarour started his training in Maqam, Middle Eastern Repertoire, the Arab violin tradition and picked up the buzuq, a long-necked chordophone most common in the Levant region. Zarour is a virtuoso on the buzuq, in addition to playing the oud, violin and percussion. ​
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waneeszarour.com

Kuniko Yamamoto 

​Japanese storytelling
IN RESIDENCE APRIL 29-MAY4

Kuniko Yamamoto enchants audiences of every age with dramatic storytelling using myths and fables from ancient and modern Japan, spiced with social revelations to educate and amuse. In Magical Mask, Music and Mime of Japan Kuniko uses traditional Japanese music, handcrafted masks, stylized movement, and a touch of magic to create an artistic balance of illusion and reality. For younger children, Origami Tales uses folded paper animals and faces, which come alive in folk tales. Every program encourages audience interaction and participation, with each narrative carefully selected for cultural and moral perspectives. Kuniko offers a variety of workshops including Math Lesson with Origami, Origami Cultural Connections and Visual Arts, Origami and Technology, Origami for Teachers, along with the Koto Green Tea Ceremony.   ​
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origamiair.com

siegelartist.com

Daniel Pak   ​

​Singer, songwriter, and producer
IN RESIDENCE MAY 13-17

 Originally from the island of O`ahu, Daniel Pak is a singer, songwriter, and producer residing in Seattle, Washington. As frontman for Kore Ionz (2008-2017), Pak shared the stage with reggae royalty, including The Wailers, Steel Pulse, and Toots and the Maytals. Performing as a solo artist since 2018, Pak has shared the stage with Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam) and Sir Mix-a-Lot, and is currently working on new music with producers Eric Lilavois (My Chemical Romance), Steve Fisk (Nirvana, Soundgarden), and Thaddeus Turner (Digable Planets). Pak is also the co-founder and executive director of Totem Star, a nonprofit youth record label that for twelve years has supported the artistic development and mentorship of nearly 5,000 aspiring young recording artists in the greater Seattle area. 
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pak.rocks

Allison
​Miller​

Jazz drummer
IN RESIDENCE OCT. 30 - Nov. 3

NYC-based drummer/composer/teacher Allison Miller engages her deep roots in improvisation as a vehicle to explore all music. Miller has been named “Top 20 Jazz Drummers” in Downbeat Magazine and her composition "Otis Was a Polar Bear" is on NPR’s list of The 200 Greatest Songs by 21st Century Women. Miller’s band Boom Tic Boom has been met with critical acclaim, receiving 4.5 stars from Downbeat and making “Top 10 Jazz Albums” lists for Downbeat, The LA Times, and Jazz Journalists Association. 
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allisonmiller.com

The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra  

Southern big band
IN RESIDENCE NOV. 15-17

Meet your next two best friends – Jeremy Davis and Clay Johnson, along with their fabulous big band! With a background in business management and entrepreneurship, Jeremy fervently curates musical arrangements with as diverse musical styles as Gospel to Great American songbook, Texas swing to Broadway, making The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra a big band show unlike any other. Jeremy is passionate about educating the next generation of musicians, specifically in areas of the music business. 

Raised in a family of preachers, teachers and Folk/Southern Gospel singers, Clay was born to inspire and entertain. His passion for music performance has developed since childhood over thousands of concerts, musicals and shows on stages from L.A. to NYC, whether playing trombone at nearby elementary schools, crooning for assisted living facilities, or singing at festivals, arenas, or sold-out theaters.  
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equinoxorchestra.com

FUNDING Partners

Significant support for the Visiting Artist Series is provided by: Scott County Regional Authority, National Endowment for the Arts, Bechtel Charitable Trust, Regional Development Authority, Quad Cities Cultural Trust, Iowa Arts Council, Illinois Arts Council Agency, Quad Cities Community Foundation, Arts Midwest GIG Fund, Rock Island Community Foundation, Rauch Family Foundation I, Moline Kiwanis, Kiwanis Club of Davenport, Moline Rotary, Rock Island Rotary, and the Mary Iva Gittens Knouse Trust. 

Quad City Arts Visiting Artist Series is the winner of the 1999 William Dawson Award for Programmatic Excellence awarded by the Association of Performing Arts Presenters. For 50 years, this nationally recognized performing arts residency program has brought distinguished artists and ensembles to Scott, Clinton, and Muscatine counties in Iowa, and Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island county in Illinois.

Visiting Artist Series Archive

Questions? Contact us!

Interested in learning more about our traditional Visiting Artist Series residency activities? Contact us. We welcome your ideas and suggestions for artists and collaborations.  ​

margot g. day

Performing Arts Director
309.793.1213 ext. 106

Email

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To purchase tickets to attend a public performance of featured artists in residence or to learn more, visit our concerts page.

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