2015-651-E Arts - McDougle Elementary School PTA Arts Grant

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DocuSign Envelope ID:9ADCCDBF-8A1A-4A6C-B366-3CDODAD161AB Arcs in Education Grant Application—Fall 2015-16 McDougle Elementary School PTA T Resumes of Key Artists and Administrators Involved in Grant Funded Programs Didgeridoo Down Under Didgeridoo Down Under(DDU) is presented by Didg Revolution edu-tainers, including Darren Liebman (founder), Rob Thomas,Tanya Gerard, Raihan Alam, Lindsay Dank and Jeremy Lembo. Darren Liebman first learned about the didgeridoo while visiting relatives in Australia in 1999, his fourth of many trips Down Under. He bought his first didg in 2000, and felt an immediate deep connection with the termite-hollowed eucalyptus trunk. Upon returning to the U.S., he taught himself how to play and decided to share the didgeridoo's positive vibrations with as many people as possible. In 2001 he founded Didg Revolution, dually a didgeridoo-percussion musical trio and a movement focused on expanding awareness of the didgeridoo and the rich Aboriginal culture behind it. In 2002 he created DDU, an Australia-themed edu-tainment program. He and his mates perform at schools, libraries,festivals and other venues throughout the U.S. Since 2003 they have combined to present more than 4,900 shows and workshops at 2,000-plus venues for well over 400,000 viewers and participants. The multi-talented duo of Rob Thomas and Tanya Gerard are true didgeridoo pioneers in the U.S., having played and made didges for more than 20 years. They've performed throughout the country, have recorded several CDs, and have produced music for numerous films, including the IMAX movie Sacred Planet. Tanya grew up in Australia, and both she and Rob have traveled extensively abroad. They lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for 22 years before moving to North Carolina in 2013 to work full-time with DDU. They're especially excited to help kids become better global citizens through motivational messages about character building, environmentalism and literacy. Tanya has written a children's book, The Adventures of the Wild, Wild Wolf. Raihan Alam has been a DDU edu-tainer since 2008. He is committed to fostering appreciation for cultural diversity, empathy and cooperation. He incorporates worldly musical instruments into his performances for a truly multicultural experience. Raihan discovered the didgeridoo in 2005, and he's been a dedicated disciple ever since. Originally a drummer, he has been playing Middle Eastern percussion and specializing in the Arabic tabla (doumbek) since 2002. Raihan's shows also feature his pet reptiles. He uses the reptiles, including Jellybean the Australian blue- tongued lizard, to educate about Australian ecology and biodiversity. Lindsey Dank was DDU's most prolific performer from 2006-2013, presenting almost 2,000 programs in 20 states. He still performs part-time for DDU, mostly in Florida and the Southeast. He's also a founding member of Didg Revolution, and creator of Giving Tree Creations. Lindsey began playing the didgeridoo in May 2000 after hearing about its connection to the Australian Aboriginal people on a public radio program. He celebrates the didgeridoo as a musical, cultural and global icon. He strives to bridge racial and societal gaps, and to open the heart and mind to new possibilities, through his music and presentations. Jeremy Lembo shaped and honed his skills as a musician through many years of formal music training,which set him up perfectly for playing the didgeridoo. He first heard the didg while watching a PBS Special at age 3. He rediscovered this interest in 1998 while traveling in Peru, when he heard a fellow traveler playing this incredible instrument on the streets of Cusco. Upon returning to the U.S. he purchased his first didg, and has been playing ever since. Jeremy is a founding member of Didg Revolution and a part-time DDU performer. Jeremy also specializes in making and selling custom-crafted didgeridoos of all wood types. Page 7 of 17