BanjoCrazy.com sends a banjo to Janna Kim in Uzbekistan
Janna Kim is a vibrant young musical talent from Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She has a stunning voice and a dynamic personality. And, she’s a 5-string banjo player! Her interest in the banjo and her search to learn how to play it in a country where the instrument is unknown is a compelling story.
I launched a campaign to get Janna a better banjo, seeing this as an opportunity for a brilliant young musician to develop her creativity. I also hoped it would become an effort whereby banjo players from around the world would support one of their own. I hoped that it would help bring the happy sounds of the banjo to a part of the world that had not yet experienced its music. Lots of hopes; and they have come to fruition thanks to all of our donors from around the world! - Paul Roberts of BanjoCrazy.com |
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Sponsors of the Janna Banjo Project
BanjoCrazy.com partnered with world-class banjo maker, Tom Nechville, and Elation Center for the Arts to assist this brilliant young musician in achieving her creative goals. Nechville, whose handmade banjos are highly revered, provided a matching opportunity to obtain one of his high-end instruments in support of this Global Artreach project
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More About the Janna Kim
Janna Kim is the stunningly talented lead singer in the rock band Cross-Section, in Uzbekistan. Janna also likes to explore the resonant landscapes of the 5-string banjo, teaching herself how to play, with a little help from her friends in the global village of the Internet. Janna has a strong desire to introduce banjo music to Uzbekistan - a country without banjo music except hers.
Janna (as told to Paul Roberts)
America always was my favorite country in the world. When I play banjo and when I hear its sound, I feel like I have come into the Old Wild West, where I can see cowboys, horses and saloons. It's a cool feeling isn't it? I like American folk music so much. It is very romantic for me.
I don't know why I'm playing banjo,” says Janna, “but I know that I love its sound and I hope one day I will play better. Maybe I'll visit USA, someday. This is the dream of my life...
Read more of this interview with Janna Kim
About Elation Center for the Arts
The Janna Banjo Fund was coordinated through Elation Center for the Arts, whose mission is the preservation of traditional music and dance. It’s a nonprofit that my wife Carla and I co-direct. We founded it six years ago in Pagosa Springs Colorado in order to run community concerts, folk music and dance classes, workshops and various other cultural arts programs. - Paul Roberts
More Personal Banjo Stories |
Janna's Banjo MP3's |
Janna's Singing |
| Banjo Musings From Uzbekistan Janna Kim | Knight (Heavy Metal) |
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| John Herrington Banjo-Totin Pastor | ||
| BanjoJudy's Story - by Judy Muldawer |
Janna Kim , Banjo Player and Rock Singer From Uzbekistan
visit her homepage on Banjo Hangout
Lead singer in the band "Cross - Section". Band Website: www.crosssection.narod.ru