BIOGRAPHY
Sherry Gingras is a native Austinite. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Sherry discovered her
true calling when she was given the gift of a West African Djembe and the spirit of the drum led her to teaching and to DRUMZ. Sherry has been teaching hand drumming in the Austin community since 1998. Sherry opened her retail store, DRUMZ, a world percussion paradise, in 2003 on Kerbey Lane
in West Austin, and began teaching in the store / studio at that time.
Sherry has been drumming and studying
West African music since 1996. Drumming is her
passion, and her belief in this music as a powerful
healing tool for individuals and communities is her inspiration and her commitment. Sherry is also a certified Drum Circle Facilitator and has worked with Drum Café as well as on her own and with her women's percussion ensemble, The Djembabes, doing drum events for team building and personal growth for schools, churches, corporations, community and private organizations and private gatherings.. She has been fortunate to have studied with many exceptional African drum teachers,
Including: Mamady Keita, the world renowned Master djembe
player and teacher, Famadou Konate, another of the world's foremost djembefolas,and Moussa Diabate, also from Guinea, Yao Angelo ( Ivory Coast), and others. Sherry has also studied with the most renowned female teachers of djembe, including Edwina Tyler,
Ubaka Hill, Afia Walkingtree, Linda Thomas
-Jones, and Sheri Baby Canon. It is with the deepest
respect for this music and these teachers that Sherry
continues to teach and share what she knows of the
magic of rhythm and hand drumming and the beautiful
music of West Africa. Having just returned frfom Guinea, West Africa where she attended one of Mamady Keita's famed djembe intensives for 3 weeks, Sherry is more inspired and committed than ever to spread the joy and empowerment of the West African djembe and its music.
EDUCATION
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Sherry has completed many workshops and intensives with renowned percussion teachers. Sherry has also been certified as a Drum Circle Facilitator by Arthur Hull and has a drumming "Unity with a Beat" certification at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. Sherry has also completed a weekend workshop with Dr. Barry Bernstein, medical doctor and author of "The Healing Power of the Drum". Sherry has just returned from Guinea in West Africa after having completed another of Mamady Keita's three week drumming intensives, January 2009.
|