Season 5, Episode 3: Chickasaw Composer, Brandi Berry Benson and the Pa I Sha Story Put to Music

Season 5 19 October 2023 Hits: 534

Listeners, before I share about today’s episode, I have a question for you. Will you be in Chicago, November 7^th or 8^th of 2023?

I’ll be singing Choctaw hymns and narrating at a Chickasaw concert – Pa I Sha - composed by none other than Chickasaw Composer, Violinist, and Artistic Director, Brandi Berry Benson!

Join us during Native American Heritage Month, on November 8^th at 7:00pm at the Epiphany Center for the Arts. Tickets are just $20.

Brandi is also presenting Pa I Sha at no charge, at Upstairs Theater in Evanston Township High School on November 7th at 6:30pm.

You’ll love this episode in which Brandi shares about:

The Chickasaw flute and other period instruments utilized in the concert
The inspiration behind Pa I Sha – her 4^th great grandmother’s story
Her ancestral history and stories
The mysteries surrounding James and Jonas Wolf and the Hyah Puk Tuklo clan – perhaps you can help!

Brandi and I met through a wonderful mutual friend, Chickasaw composer, Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate. By the way, Shell Shaker: A Chickasaw Opera’s will now premier October 27^th, 2024 in Oklahoma City!

Brandi, who is faculty of Northwestern and DePaul Universities and the Artistic Director of the Bach & Beethoven Experience (BBE), also teaches Baroque Performance Practice and Ornamentation and has released multiple albums. Check them out at https://brandiberrybenson.com/ and streaming platforms such as apple music, pandora, etc.!