Musical Intersections of Portuguese/African Diasporas and the Catholic Church in Central Connecticut The Lakeside Room @ Camp Hazen Questions? Contact Allison Insall at insall.brayce@gmail.com Join us for this discussion along with musical and rhythmic examples. Explore the historical connections and new directions of a shared musical tradition. Music plays an active role in connecting the history and culture of Africans in the Americas. The Congado Mineiro (religious drumming and singing processional) from Minas Gerais, Brazil is a way to explore historical connections and new directions of a shared musical tradition that is interpreted differently by multi-generational neighborhood groups and youth social service projects. In 2018, Galm presented the first United States missa conga (drumming mass) in the Trinity College Chapel. The City of Itabira and the State of Minas Gerais sent over 30 individuals to participate in this event which connected multiple intersections among the Portuguese and African diasporas, as well as the global presence of the Catholic Church. Eric Galm is Professor of music, chair of the music department and co-director of the Center for Caribbean Studies, at Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut. He founded the Trinity Samba Ensemble and the Samba Fest, a regional music festival that has presented the United States debut performances of several Brazilian artists. He has conducted research, presented, and performed in Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad, the United States and Canada.