JM International (JMI), Folk Alliance International (FAI) and the North Carolina Folk Festival announce their third year of partnership to bring the global international musical exchange program, Ethno USA, to the North Carolina Folk Festival in Greensboro in September 2025. Ethno has been established in the U.S. since 2019 via a partnership between JM International and Folk Alliance International (FAI).
Ethno USA 2025 will welcome 30 musicians from around the world (between the ages of 18-30 years old) along with 4 artistic mentors for an 11-day residency where the group will create a repertoire of traditional songs from around the world played by a unique ‘Ethnorchestra’, comprising musicians and instrumentation that change each year based on recruitment.
Check out the Ethno USA Youtube Playlist to get a feel of what is to come!
Ethno USA will invite back inspiring guest mentor Billy Two Rivers, one of the local Tuscarora-Lumbee drum keepers. Professor James Shields, lore keeper of the ‘Underground Railroad’ which passed through Greensboro during the times of slavery, will also share the history and knowledge of that time period of U.S. history with participants. Other traditional, international and North American guest mentors who will share their knowledge and music with the musicians of Ethno USA 2025 are to be confirmed.
Participating musicians will get to experience a vast diversity of musical traditions both from the U.S. and other parts of the world. Together they will arrange 10-12 songs from as many different countries and cultures. At Ethno, participants bring with them a song or a piece of music which they teach to the group through a series of workshops during the 11-day residency creating an exciting repertoire that will be performed at the NC Folk Festival. All teaching at Ethno is peer-led and collaborative. There will also be plenty of opportunities to share music, cultural traditions and jam all night long.
The residency culminates in 2 mainstage performances at the NC Folk Festival on Friday, September 12th and Saturday, September 13th. These performances will be recorded live by veteran recording engineer and L.A.-based producer Barry Goldberg. On Sunday, September 14th, Ethno USA will present a country delegation-led performance that will showcase traditional, original and newly-arranged songs created during the residency.
Ethno USA’s ‘Ethnorchestra’ will also include a community concert, open to all, that is slated to take place on Thursday, September 11th at a location in Greensboro (to be determined).
Prior to the performances, Ethno USA will deliver community concerts and conduct master classes at local universities and local elementary schools. An amazing experience for all, as the school children who attend the Ethno workshops will be invited to sing and dance with Ethno USA on the main stage!
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants should apply online via the following form:
https://mubazar.com/en/opportunity/ethno-usa-2025
Application deadline is August 1st, 2025 or until all available participant spots are filled.
Scholarships are available for candidates within the U.S., with legal residency immigration status, who cannot afford the travel or participation fee. Please indicate that you need a scholarship within the application form.
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