Native American Composers Apprenticeship Project facts for kids
The Native American Composers Apprenticeship Project (NACAP) started in 2001. It is a special program by the Grand Canyon Music Festival. NACAP helps young Native American people learn how to create their own classical music.
Each year, young musicians get to work with a Native American composer. They also work with a string quartet that stays with them for a while. This happens as part of their school's music classes. In 2011, the Sphinx Organization's Catalyst Quartet was the first group to join NACAP as a special Fellowship Ensemble.
In 2007, a radio station in New York called WNYC shared a story about NACAP. It was on their show Soundcheck. Ralph Farris from the string quartet ETHEL told the story.
NACAP has won important awards. It received the Arizona Governor's Arts Award for Arts in Education. In 2011, First Lady Michelle Obama gave NACAP a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award.
Who Teaches the Music?
These are some of the talented composers who have worked with NACAP:
- 2004–2019 - Raven Chacon (Navajo)
- 2006 - Adam Overton
- 2003 - Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate (Chickasaw)
- 2003 - David Mallamud
- 2001–2002 - Brent Michael Davids (Mahican)
String Quartets That Help
String quartets are groups of four musicians who play string instruments. These groups have helped teach young musicians at NACAP:
- 2015 - present - Sweet Plantain Quartet: Eddie Venegas, Joe Deninzon, Edward W. Hardy (2015), Orlando Wells, and Leo Grinhauz.
- 2012 - present - Catalyst Quartet
- 2005 - 2012 - ETHEL
- 2004 - Calder Quartet
- 2003 - Avalon Quartet
- 2002 - Corigliano Quartet
- 2001 - Miró Quartet
Learn More
- First Nations Composer Initiative
- Native American music
