Ethno USA 2026

Jeunesses Musicales International (JMI), Folk Alliance International (FAI), and the North Carolina Folk Festival are proud to bring the acclaimed Ethno USA music exchange program to downtown Greensboro this September for the 4th time, marking an exciting new partnership with the historic Carolina Theatre of Greensboro.

Ethno USA 2026 will welcome 30 young musicians from around the world, ages 18–30, alongside four experienced artistic mentors for an immersive 11-day residency centered on cultural exchange, collaboration, and musical discovery. Together, participants will create a dynamic repertoire of traditional music from across the globe, performed by a one-of-a-kind “Ethnorchestra” — a unique ensemble shaped each year by the musicians, cultures, and instruments represented.

Ethno USA 2026 will also welcome inspiring guest mentors from across North Carolina and beyond. Returning guest mentor and African-American historian Professor James Shields will share the history of the Underground Railroad routes that passed through Greensboro during slavery, alongside storytelling and cultural insight rooted in the region’s past. Local Indigenous cultural bearers will offer traditional teachings and perspectives rooted in the region’s Native communities. A third prestigious North American guest mentor, curated in partnership with the North Carolina Folk Festival, will be announced soon.

The residency culminates in four public performances showcasing the collaborations developed throughout the program: a community concert at the UNCG Recital Hall on September 17, a Friday evening concert at the historic Carolina Theatre of Greensboro on September 18, a Saturday morning concert at the Van Dyke Performance Space in the Greensboro Cultural Center on September 19, and a Sunday matinee finale at the Carolina Theatre on September 20.