Moon & Stars Foundation/Kutandara

Building Community Through Music

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Helping heal the world through the joy of music
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You are here: Home / Takapenga

Takapenga

Takapenga (“We Are Awesome!”) performs Zimbabwean-style marimba around Colorado’s front range. They use a 7-piece marimba orchestra with hand percussion.

photo by Liam and Celia

Check out a video of Takapenga performing on youtube.

The Musicians


Celia is in 9th grade. She started playing marimba in 2012 and this is her second year in Takapenga. She says playing marimba and being a part of Kutandara’s amazing music community has completely changed her life in so many positive ways: by giving her amazing opportunities, allowing her to meet international friends, and creating a container in which to express herself. She also enjoys playing volleyball and doing outdoor activities.


Eliza has been around Zimbabwean music since before she was born! Growing up at Kutandara, she’s had the unique opportunity to travel to Zimbabwe in both 2017 and 2018, participating in an international exchange program at a boarding school outside Harare. She has made lots of great friends through Zimbabwean music, including her younger “sister” Mudiwa and her older “brother” Taffie. In her spare time, she enjoys painting and traveling.


Elyssa has been playing marimba since 2009. She joined Takapenga in 2017. She loves how it brings the people in her group closer together through music. Aside from marimba, Elyssa sings in her school’s choir and wants to learn more mbira. She likes playing at gigs and seeing the audience’s appreciation of marimba music.


Liam has been playing marimba at Kutandara for as long as he can remember. He’s worked hard to become the best player he can be, and is excited to be part of the band Takapenga. In his free time, Liam loves traveling and nature photography.


Malik is a sophmore at Silver Creek High School and even with his crazy schedule he loves to come to Kutandara to play marimba. Malik has been playing marimba since he was 7 and now he is 16…so more than half his life! He loves to go to the studio to make friends and grow as a person.


Perry started playing Zimbabwean music on djembe drums at age 5, transitioning to marimba at age 6. That means he has been playing marimba for over half his life!  He really enjoys the complex rhythms. Being a part of the Teen Performance Program keeps his life balanced as the music is vibrant and upbeat and “the perfect remedy to convert an average day to an awesome day.”  He appreciates that playing Zimbabwean music gives him a foundation to appreciate the global society in which we live.


Noah is 18 and attending Niwot High School. He has been playing marimba for 12 years. Ever since he picked up some mallets from his mom’s first marimba, he just could not stop playing. Noah really appreciates Zimbabwean music and he loves the storytelling feel to it.  It gives him an insight into other people’s lives and he thinks that it is awesome!


Skylar is in 9th grade. This is her second year in Takapenga. She has been playing marimba for 6 years. Skylar enjoys learning music from a different culture which challenges her and brings diversity into her life. She has made many friends being a part of Takapenga, and always has so much fun playing marimba. Skylar also participates in a singing group, school musicals, and plays soccer.

photo by Liam and Celia

Welcome

Daily Schedule

Land Acknowledgment

We at Kutandara acknowledge with respect (as non-Native people) that the land on which we stand, live, learn, teach, and perform is the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Peoples. We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the state of Colorado. We honor Elders past, present, and future, and those who have … Read More

CONTACT US

5401 Western Avenue, Suite B
Boulder, Colorado 80301
(303) 443-2969

info@kutandara.com

Classes

We have something for everyone! We offer on-going marimba, drumming, and mbira classes for kids, teens, and adults, as well as custom one-time music … Read More

Concerts

Live Online SessionsWe can’t gather in large groups right now, so we’ve been thinking about how to keep sharing the music of Zimbabwe with the world. … Read More

Collaborations

We collaborate with individuals, groups, and nonprofit organizations at every opportunity to bring special projects to our community and beyond. Music … Read More

Moon & Stars is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization registered with the State of Colorado, FEIN 82–1129217.

Copyright © 2021 Moon & Stars Foundation. All rights reserved
5401 Western Avenue, Suite B, Boulder, Colorado 80301
(303) 443-2969   info@kutandara.com
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