The East Meets West: An Indian Classical and Jazz Fusion workshop at the Pepperwood community in Langley was an engaging and creative session made possible by a generous grant from Neighborhood Small Grants. The funding was used for promotional materials, musical equipment, venue rental, food, and essential supplies. By focusing our funding on these specific areas, we were able to celebrate cultural diversity through music and integrate cultural harmony across our diverse neighborhood.
The turnout met our expectations with approximately 30 community members participating in the workshop. The atmosphere was filled with joy and warmth as the participants immersed themselves in the musical workshop led by the instructors. The guests approached my friend and me after the workshop and thanked us for teaching our respective genres. It was a very rewarding experience, which I have never had before.
Zoe, my co-leader, not only helped with the planning but also created a beautiful promotional poster for the workshop. Her jazz session perfectly complemented the Indian Classical portion which I presented.
In addition, my family and friends, greatly helped with running the event. They set up musical equipment, distributed snacks efficiently, and managed the crowd to make certain that the event ran smoothly. Their efforts were crucial in creating an enjoyable and organized experience for everyone involved.
Though the workshop ran smoothly, a challenge that we faced was promoting the event. Since the weather brought heavy rains, a few confirmed participants were unable to attend. We successfully addressed the issue by advertising the event on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Eventbrite, as well as posting flyers throughout the community.
It was heartwarming to see how people interacted during the event. Many actively participated by singing along and joining in the exercises, while others enjoyed connecting with each other, creating a sense of community and belonging.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Neighbourhood Small Grants for their generosity. The grant allowed us to share the diverse and rich culture of Langley residents. The music we created was a channel to bring people together and experience unity within diversity. The impact of this event was profound, as evidenced by the words of one attendee, who expressed, “This experience has inspired me to explore further Hindustani Classical and Jazz music and know more about its rich background”. The workshop was a great success, and we look forward to conducting more such events.
