29 11 INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE

Program Activity: Music and Cultural Tour to the USA - January through April 2024. Program Objective: Facilitate a music and culture tour with 12 African Performance artists from South Africa (10) and The Democratic Republic of Congo - DRC (2). Accomplishments/Outcomes: Participants engaged in music and culture exchanges on 83 occasions collaborating with churches, schools, universities, nursing homes, hospitals, Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Chorale, MacPhail Center for Music, nonprofit organizations, and several city park amphitheater performances. Standout Accomplishment:29:11 Ensemble participated in "Young People's Orchestra" with members of the Grammy Award winning Minnesota Orchestra. With performances at over 12 schools, along-side string quartet players from the Orchestra, and 3 follow up performances with the full Orchestra at Orchestra Hall, performing for over 9000 students from schools around the Twin Cities. Other Accomplishments: The Ensemble travelled to 3 other states, including Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska. As a result of engaging with us, we hope audiences will become more aware of opportunities to promote kind and peaceful change as a way to address racial inequalities in their communities. Offered new ways for audiences to learn about and appreciate African music, culture and history. Future Plans: The organization will plan to have these international exchange tours bi-annually or annually as the demand and funding allows.

Program Activity: "Music in a Bubble" Virtual Tour/Retreat. July, 2024, & October, 15 - November, 15 2024, Program Objective: Executive Artistic Director Brendon Adams traveled to South Africa to retreat with 13 29:11 members in a secure location. The primary purpose of the retreats was to give the participants an opportunity to get to know one another, learn new music, record new music and prepare for the up-coming US Tour. Accomplishments/Outcomes: Participants during the July Music in a Bubble participated in a song writing retreat, with exercises specific to each of the 6 participants collectively writing 2 songs and bringing one singe each to present on the next project album. The Music in A Bubble in October/November brought the full group together to learn and record the new songs. The opportunity remains for ensemble members to engage with other artists across the globe by gathering in a retreat center to learn, rehearse, teach, and share via social media.