Live Event 2012

Erica Gimpel first received international acclaim for her performance as “Coco Hernandez” on the ground breaking hit series FAME. Since then, Erica has gone on to star in award-winning TV shows including, NIKITA, CRIMINAL MINDS, GREY’S ANATOMY, HOUSE, RIZZOLI & ISLES, BOSTON LEGAL, ER, VERONICA MARS and THE PROFILER.Erica’s film credits include acting with Oscar winners Forest Whitaker, Christopher Walken, Helen Mirren, and Melissa Leo. Erica just completed shooting the indie film TIO PAPI, set for release in 2012, along with BLUE EYES (OLHOS AZUIS), which she shot in Rio de Janeiro.

Erica’s theater credits include: Sam Shepard’s STATES OF SHOCK with John Malkovitch, and INTIMATE APPAREL by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage.

Another of Erica’s roles is as a gifted singer/songwriter. Her riveting live debut CD, SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY was recorded at a fundraiser for LA’s Downtown Women’s Center, and quickly became one of CDBABY’S top albums in the Jazz/Pop genre and is also available on iTunes.

Erica was recently commissioned by artistic director/choreographer Hilary Thomas, of the LINEAGE DANCE COMPANY to collaborate on a music and dance concert using Erica’s life story and music as the centerpiece, their collaboration evolved into the very personal and moving story, SOARING TO FREEDOM. Erica’s song SPREAD YOUR WINGS will be featured in the upcoming indie film HILL AND GULLY released this fall. Erica is the recipient of the LA Femme Film Festival’s “INNOVATIVE AWARD”, and is also an active member of the World Peace organization, the SGI-USA, dedicated to pursuing the values of peace, culture and education.

For more info: www.ericagimpelmedia.com

The Golden Bridge Community Choir is in it’s 5th year. We are a non-auditioned, multi-generational choir seeking to create a world in which we listen deeply to those around us, celebrate diversity, trust in our voices and bring them forward to build community.The choir is led by Maggie Wheeler and Emile Hassan Dyer

Maggie Wheeler is a well known actress & entertainer. Here in the U.S and internationally, Maggie has appeared on numerous television shows and in films as well . She is best known for her work as the character of Janice on NBC’s hit series Friends. Maggie has also worked extensively in the field of animation. She is a singer/song writer/choir director and dynamic workshop facilitator & has been teaching vocal workshops in and out of Los Angeles for the past 15 years.

Affectionately known by his fans in Asia as “Jambo”, vocalist/ multi-percussionist/choreographer/ dancer/storyteller Emile Hassan Dyer was raised in France and Senegal where he was influenced at an early age by the rhythms and music of West Africa. Emile brings a multicultural perspective to music, drawing on his Cherokee and African heritages while performing the percussion instruments and vocal styles of many cultures.He has worked with such luminaries as: Babatunde Olatunji, Bobby McFerrin, Kevin Locke, Titos Sompas, David Darling, Glen Velez and Jim Scott, as well as Art Baron of the Duke Ellington Big Band. Emile uses vocal and body percussion as well as drums from around the world and extensive vocalese in his musical creations.

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele are the stars of Comedy Central’s Key & Peele, an original new sketch-comedy show that examines life in a provocative and irreverent way, through a combination
of filmed sketches and live stage segments. Whether it’s satirizing the President, spoofing Nazis, or ordering up some soul food, Key & Peele showcases their chemistry, camaraderie and unique point of view, born from their shared background and experiences growing up biracial in a not quite post-racial world.Keegan-Michael Key is the star and co-creator of the Comedy Central series KEY & PEELE opposite Jordan Peele. He was a series regular on GARY UNMARRIED as well as MADtv for six seasons. A veteran of Detroit and Chicago’s The Second City Theater, Keegan also appeared on THE LEAGUE, RENO 911!, LOVE BITES, ER, and CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. His film credits include JUST GO WITH IT, ROLE MODELS, MR. 3000 and DUE DATE. He can next be seen in the features THE WILD BUNCH and WANDERLUST.

Jordan Peele is the star and co-creator of the Comedy Central series KEY & PEELE opposite Keegan-Michael Key. He was a series regular and writer on MADtv where he garnered an Emmy nomination for his music video Sad Fitty Cent. He currently recurs on Adult Swim’s CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL and has appeared on RENO 911!, LOVE BITES, CHOCOLATE NEWS, and VH1’s FREE RADIO. Jordan’s feature credits include LITTLE FOCKERS with Ben Stiller and the upcoming WANDERLUST opposite Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd.

Ryan is 20 years old and half-Japanese half-Caucasian American. He is from Oceanside, California. Ray is currently in his second year at the University of California, Santa Barbara studying Sociology and Japanese. He dreams of becoming a professional and well-renowned performer and spoken word artist. Sink or swim.

Cheray O’Neal is an actress, poet, award-winning writer, and member of The Labyrinth Theater Company.

She wrote/performed for the NAACP Image Awards Nominee Luncheon, the theme song for Showtime’s docudrama ‘the O tapes’, and has two published books.

She created ‘Born’, an international creative writing poetic theatre fundraising workshop for young girls.

Cheray will be seen in the film ”H4” and the web series ‘Sepia love’. Check out Cheray O’neal’s IMBD Page and LuLu.

FELLOW REBEL, is the Hip-Art Duo featuring Matt Sax & Angela Wildflower Polk. Their ‘DIRTY VINTAGE” sound blends hip-hop & soulful vocals, with a passion for social change. FELLOW REBEL commands the stage with magnetic energy & electric stage presence. The LOVE.MUSIC.REVOLUTION is here. www.fellowrebel.com

CONTRA-TIEMPO is a non-profit, Los Angeles based, activist dance company, founded and directed by Ana Maria Alvarez. CONTRA-TIEMPO is dedicated to transforming the world through dance. Their unique Urban Latin Dance Theater brings to life voices that are not traditionally heard on the concert stage. The company builds community, facilitates dialogue and moves youth to imagine what is possible in the world. www.contra-tiempo.orgPHOTO BY BRANDT BROGAN

Jazz musicians Edye Evans Hyde and Michael Hyde have been married and making music together for over 30 years. Performing has taken them from Michigan to California, Asia and Europe. Edye recently released her new album, “Magic in his Eyes.” Edye and Michael have two beautiful adult children and are thrilled to be at their first Mixed Roots Festival. Edye Evans Hyde

Ampersand (Rachel Garcia and Thu Tran) play a style of music they call “City Folk,” which is a stylistic hybrid of folk, pop, and jazz reflecting their diverse musical and cultural backgrounds. Tran’s songwriting and Garcia’s jazz and blues vocal styling blend together to create Ampersand’s cheerfully soulful sound.

An award-winning poet, educator, organizer, and published author, Aaron Samuels has performed his work for the last six years, ranking among the top poets in the youth, collegiate, and national competitions. As an artist, Aaron stresses the urgency for cross-cultural dialogue, teaching writing workshops at schools and community organizations across the country.