Intergenerational West African and Caribbean Drum & Song Class w/ Tamarack Hollow

Join in an intergenerational, interactive and hands on drumming and singing experience rooted in folkloric West Africa and Caribbean music led by Aimée Gelinas and musicians from the Tamarack Hollow Nature and Cultural Center, Gaia Roots and the Berkshire Rhythm Keepers. Participants will play on traditional percussion instruments and learn songs in various languages and the cultural context of the music. Visit www.tamarackhollow.org & www.tamarackhollow.com

This project is supported by a grant from the Mary and Henry Flynt endowment fund of the Williamstown Community Chest and the Fund for Williamstown of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.

Aimée Gelinas M.Ed is a musician and naturalist educator who has been performing and facilitating educational programs for 30+ years. She cofounded and directs the Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center in Windsor, MA a non-profit conserving 88 acres of rare, high elevation Boreal forest and watershed that is dedicated to “Inspiring environmental and cultural awareness, appreciation and stewardship” by providing year round nature and drumming programs for all ages. As the Director, she is currently guiding the organization in building a nature and cultural educational center on site that broke ground in 2024. She is a skilled and seasoned nature educator and outdoor guide as well as a master percussionist and singer specializing in West African and Caribbean music specifically folkloric percussion such as Djembe, Doun Doun, Conga, Shekere and more. She cofounded the music ensembles Gaia Roots in 1994, Trio Candela in 2007 and Sifer in 2000 and also performs with Las Mujeres de la Bomba since 2019. She teaches drumming, singing and nature programs throughout Western MA and beyond to hundreds of students and produces a yearly fundraiser event: The Annual Tamarack Hollow Berkshire Drum and Dance Fest celebrating its 17th year in October 2026. She also leads her two intergenerational student drum performance ensembles: The Berkshire and The Valley Rhythm Keepers. Aimee is a lead drum accompanist for dance classes at Jacob’s Pillow, the Five Colleges, Springfield College, Berkshire Pulse and at local festivals such as Wandering Dance and also teaches at local venues such as CATA (Community Access to the Arts), the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts for her weekly Pittsfield drum classes, programs through her non-profit Tamarack Hollow, Noel’s dance classes and venues including schools, senior centers, retreats and more. Aimee has traveled to West Africa, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America and throughout the US to perform and study percussion with master drummers. She co-produced the 19-track CD Mother Drum by Gaia Roots featuring music from West Africa, the Caribbean and originals.