Jennifer Kreisberg’s voice has been called fierce and hauntingly beautiful, a gift for harmonizing and a product of her upbringing in the Tuscarora Nation in North Carolina.
“As a former member of the critically acclaimed Native women’s trio ULALI, Jennifer helped pioneer a groundbreaking new sound in Indian Country for over two decades,” according to a written announcement about Kreisberg’s upcoming performance at Cotuit Center for the Arts.
Kreisberg will appear at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, with the Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers in the Vivian and Morton Siegel Black Box Theater, 4404 Falmouth Road (Route 28). Tickets, available through the center’s website at cotuit.org, are priced $10 to $50, as is the custom for Cotuit’s small, intimate theater.
Kreisberg was one of three original musicians in ULALI, which she co-founded with Pura Fe and Soni Moreno-Primeau in 1987. The group sang tales of Native struggles and victories at dozens of high-visibility events at venues including Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
In her solo career after leaving the trio, Kreisberg has performed with Cree cellist Cris Derksen, Santee Smith and Kaha Dance Theatre, as well as world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
She earned a Genie Award as a composer of the soundtrack “Unnatural and Accidental” and an Emmy nomination for her soundtrack work in “Dawnland.”
“A member of the Tuscarora Nation (North Carolina), Jennifer Kreisberg comes from four generations of ‘Seven Singing Sisters’ and has been singing since childhood. Known for her fierce vocals and breathtaking harmonies, Jennifer’s music has resonated deeply in Native communities and beyond,” according to her website.
In Greek mythology, the "Seven Sisters" are the Pleiades constellation that were the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas. The Native American storyline also references the constellation of seven stars, but uses the myth as an origin story of life and a way to share culture.
The Wampanoag Singers and Dancers include members of the tribal communities of Mashpee on Cape Cod, Aquinnah on Martha’s Vineyard and Herring Pond in Bourne. They perform Native songs, drumming and dances regularly, with nearly a dozen events scheduled through the end of the year. Dressed in traditional clothing and accompanied by a water drum and handcrafted rattles, the dancers encourage audience members to join them.
“Our performances of eastern social songs and dances have both educated and entertained audiences of all ages in museums, schools, and various multi-cultural events,” according to their website, wampanoagnationsingersanddancers.com.
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