Nichols Set to Host First International Music Festival

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Jeffrey Starr, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

"Hot Like Fire," a reggae party band, will perform at Nichols along with others.

This Saturday Nichols College in Dudley will host its first International Music Festival on the Guest House Lawn.

The event will include performances from a wide range of musical genres from around the globe, including Cuban Salsa, Incan pan pipes, Reggae, and African drums and dance.

The festival is sponsored by the Robert C. Fischer Policy and Cultural Institute, which specializes in hosting a wide variety of programs designed to promote and encourage social, cultural and political exchange and diversity on and off the campus of Nichols College.
One of the most important ways in which the Institute hopes to accomplish this goal is through featuring the arts, including music.

According to Blanche Milligan, Director of the Fischer Institute, "the arts are a good entry into the ability to understand different cultures." To the Fischer Institute, this is incredibly important for students at a Business school like Nichols which has a number of students who may be interested in international business or the various study abroad programs offered by the college.

This first International Music Festival is just one of many events done throughout the year designed to expose students to different cultures and pressing issues of international concern, according to Milligan. "The series of cultural events, in addition to those featuring the arts, includes speakers on various world policy and contemporary national issues."

According to Milligan, the music festival is a bit of an experiment, designed to gauge interest within the community for the possibility of a yearly festival. She reminds us that this, and other events open to the public, are not just for students and their interests.

"Above all, we hope people will come together and have a good time while listening to good music on a Saturday afternoon. Nichols wants to be part of the community and encourages people to pay attention to what the college has to offer."

The four different bands playing four different styles of music will each play for about an hour. Two local restaurants will be present as vendors selling international food. If it is successful and well attended, the institute hopes to expand the festival next year to make it make it bigger and better.

The event lasts from 3 to 8 pm and is free of charge. For more information on this event, other events, or the Fischer Institute in general visit the Nichols College website here, or contact Blanche Milligan by email at [email protected]