Kaethe Hostetter's heritage is intellectual off-grid coastal California soup. Her parents were friends with R. Crumb, Tom Lehrer, Paul Bowles; her midwife was Slime Queen, one of Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters. She grew up amongst the tall redwoods, with a revolving door of filmmakers, storytellers, archivists, experimental chefs, and traveling musicians of all ilks. A fiddle player, Hostetter ultimately landed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – the start of an eleven year journey collaborating with traditional musicians and zooming around the chaotic streets of Addis, dodging livestock on the way to recording studios and gigs. Gaining her own voice in this scene, she formed QWANQWA, an experimental/traditional ensemble. In Intro to Ethiopian Music, Hostetter will share a dynamic introductory overview of Ethiopia’s remarkable and rich musical culture.

Master Class: Kaethe Hostetter – Intro to Ethiopian Music