Another fabulous festival is over; Zimfest 2016 is now history. If you were there, please take the Zimfest 2016 Survey at https://goo.gl/forms/lF7glY8e5a0R4aC83
Zimfest News Blog
Festival Details
Calling all Zimfest Old Timers
Greetings,
The Zimfest Association Board of Directors is very interested in hearing how future Zimfests can better meet the needs and desires of experienced musicians and long-time Zimfest participants. At this year’s festival, The Board will be hosting a discussion on Saturday August 13 at 11:45 a.m.in the Backstage Room in Valsetz Dining Center to hear your feedback on this topic. Please join us, bring your lunch, bring your ideas, and help contribute to stronger Zimfests in the future! This is a lunch meeting, so get your food in the cafeteria at Valsetz and then come back out towards the entrance and turn left into the Backstage Room.
Hope to see you there!
Zimfest Association Board of Directors
Posted In: Festival Details
4 Comments
Drums and Mbira Needed for Zimfest Workshops
Hi all,
Zimfest needs loaner drums and mavembe/gandanga mbira for workshops.
If you have either a conga/djembe drum, or a mavembe/gandanga mbira that you are willing to loan, please bring it to the registration desk Thursday or Friday morning. We will check it in, label it with your name, and treat it as if it were our own.
Thanks!
Zimfest 2016 Organizing Committee
Posted In: Festival Details
7 Comments
Zimfest Tips
Greetings Zimfest Participants,
There are now six days remaining before Zimfest 2016 launches! We have a few tips and reminders for Zimfest participants, whether you are new to the festival or an old hand:
- The weather forecast for Monmouth OR is for continued sunny and warm weather, likely to be in the 80s during the festival. Be sure to put on sunscreen and bring fans for your rooms. Like most colleges, Western Oregon University has no air conditioning in the dorms.
- Zimfest supplies (borrowed) marimbas and hosho for workshops, but it can be challenging procuring enough instruments for the many types of workshops we offer. If you have or can borrow a mbira in the tuning a workshop will be taught in, please bring it; otherwise the teacher or Zimfest will provide one. The same goes for drumming workshops; if you own or can borrow a drum for a workshop you are taking, please bring it. If you are taking a guitar workshop and have a guitar amp, please bring it as Zimfest cannot provide amps.
- Zimfest online registration for housing, dining and workshops is now closed, but you can still sign up for volunteer shifts here. Onsite registration will open at the festival at noon on Thursday August 11. You will then be able to enroll in workshops that still have space in them by going to the Registration Desk.
- Workshop registrations will close 15 minutes before the session starting time in order for staff to print final workshop rosters. In some cases latecomers may request a “golden ticket” to sign up for an open workshop up until the start time of the workshop.
- Very often bands performing at Zimfest like to sell their CDs after their shows. If you are performing on the evening concert stage, Zimfest can provide table space in the WUC West Lobby outside the Pacific Room concert hall. Please provide your own CD salespeople, as Zimfest volunteers cannot sell CDs for you.
Thanks for reading, and see you at the festival!
Zimfest 2016 Organizing Committee
Sing-Dance-Play! Tambai Tambai! Dlala-Dlala!
Posted In: Festival Details
No Comments
Less Than 1 Week To Go
Marimba … Mbira … Dance … Song … Drum
Hosho … Guitar … Chipendani … Presentations
Marimba … Mbira … Dance … Song … Drum
Hosho … Guitar … Chipendani … Presentations
Marimba … Mbira … Dance … Song … Drum
Hosho … Guitar … Chipendani … Presentations
Marimba … Mbira … Dance … Song … Drum
Hosho … Guitar … Chipendani … Presentations
Marimba … Mbira … Dance … Song … Drum
Hosho … Guitar … Chipendani … Presentations
Posted In: Festival Details
1 Comment
Volunteer Request
Zimfest is just two weeks away! The Organizing Committee is eagerly watching volunteer sign-ups to learn who can help pull final festival details together on Wednesday and Thursday, August 10 and 11.
Are you arriving in Monmouth on Wednesday or Thursday? If so, we can use your help setting up – particularly WORKSHOP INSTRUMENT SETUP, GENERAL FESTIVAL SETUP, SIGNAGE SETUP and COMPUTER ASSIST (at registration). If you do not have a task preference, sign up for a shift at the VOLUNTEER TABLE. Every task scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday is our first priority to fill.
Sign up here: https://zimfest.org/vol/volunteer-tasks/. With your assistance, we look forward to preparing the space for another fabulous Zimfest!
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” —Oscar Wilde
Posted In: Festival Details
3 Comments
Registration Deadline Reminder
Greetings Zimfest community,
Registration is going well and the excitement is building – Zimfest 2016 is only three weeks away! We wanted to remind you that there will be no housing available at the festival unless you book it in advance, and you must make your reservations online as soon as possible. Here are the important deadlines to be aware of:
- July 25 (Monday): Sign up and pay for all housing by this date.
- July 28 (Thursday): Workshops with enrollments of less than three (marimba) or two (all other workshops) will be canceled.
- August 3 (Wednesday): Last day to drop workshops
See Registration Deadlines on the website for more information. To register for housing, meals, workshops, and concert tickets, go to https://register.zimfest.org.
Keep up with workshop changes: https://zimfest.org/news/festival-updates/
Sing-Dance-Play! Tambai Tambai! Dlala-Dlala!
See you soon,
Claire Jones, Festival Coordinator
On behalf of the Zimfest 2016 Organizing Committee
Posted In: Festival Details
No Comments
Zimfest 2015 Survey
We hope you were able to attend Zimfest this year. (If not, we look forward to seeing you at a later Zimfest!)
Thank you for coming to Zimfest 2015! We all hope you had a wonderful time. As we have done in past years, we would like to hear about your experiences so that we can make Zimfest better in the years to come. And to make that easier for you, this year’s survey is much simpler than in the past. Please take a few moments to share your thoughts about what works and what can be better. You are also welcome to share any other thoughts you have about Zimfest or Zimfest Association. We welcome your input!
https://zimfest.org/overview/survey/
Thank you!
2015 Zimfest Organizing Committee
Zimfest Association Board of Directors
Posted In: Festival Details
No Comments
Final Announcement Before Zimfest 2015
Dear Zimfest Community,
This will be our final announcement before Zimfest 2015 launches on Thursday August 13. The excitement is building, but there is still much to do! We have a few comments and reminders for Zimfest participants, whether you are new to the festival or an old hand:
- The weather forecast for Monmouth OR is for temperatures in the high 70s on Thursday, increasing to the 80s next weekend. Be sure to put on sunscreen and bring fans for your rooms. Like most colleges, Western Oregon University has no air conditioning in the dorms or most of the classrooms.
- Zimfest supplies (borrowed) marimbas and hosho for workshops, but it can be challenging procuring enough instruments for the many types of workshops we offer. If you have or can borrow a mbira in the tuning a workshop will be taught in, please bring it; otherwise the teacher or Zimfest will provide one. The same goes for drumming workshops; if you own or can borrow a drum for a workshop you are taking, please bring it. We are also requesting those can lend drums for our workshops to please do so. If you are taking a guitar workshop and have a guitar amp, please bring it as Zimfest cannot provide amps.
- Zimfest online registration for housing, dining and workshops is now closed, but you may still sign up for volunteer shifts at https://zimfest.org/volunteer/list/. Onsite registration will open at the festival at noon on Thursday. You will be able at that point to rent rooms or additional nights in your already-reserved rooms, purchase camping passes and/or enroll in workshops that still have space in them. You can no longer drop workshops that you have signed up and paid for; see rules about workshops and cancellations at https://zimfest.org/wksps/about-workshops/ (scroll down to the bottom).
- Very often bands performing at Zimfest like to sell their CDs after their shows. If you are on the outdoor stage in the afternoon, the Kutsinhira people may be able to sell your CD for you; inquire at the Kutsinhira Booth in the marketplace. If you are performing on the Evening concert stage, Zimfest can provide table space in the WUC West Lobby outside the Pacific Room concert hall. Please provide your own CD salespeople, as Zimfest volunteers have other tasks to carry out and cannot sell CDs for you.
Thanks for reading, and see you at the festival!
Enduring Rhythms ~ Gathering in Harmony
Zimfest 2015 Organizing Committee
Posted In: Festival Details
No Comments
Zimfest Workshop Cancellations
Hello Zimfest community,
Yesterday was the deadline for cancellation of workshops with low enrollments. Please check the Workshop Changes page (https://zimfest.org/news/festival-updates/#workshop-changes) for a list of cancellations and changes. If you have been dropped from a cancelled workshop and have Zimfest credit, browse the workshop list for a replacement. There are still many open workshops in all categories: dance, mbira, marimba, presentations, songs and games!
You will have until August 5th to register for any open workshops, drop workshops or transfer to other workshops. On that date, workshop registrations will be frozen until the festival and no changes will be allowed. During the festival, students may not drop or transfer to another workshop unless the workshop they are enrolled in has been significantly changed by the festival organizers (such as a different teacher.) See the page About Workshops for more information on cancellations and situations in which you may apply for a refund (https://zimfest.org/wksps/about-workshops/).
Enjoy the blue moon tonight!
Zimfest 2015 Organizing Committee
Enduring Rhythms ~ Gathering in Harmony
Posted In: Festival Details
No Comments
Transportation to and from Zimfest
Dear Zimfest community,
As Zimfest 2015 at Western Oregon University draws near, we on the organizing committee have become painfully aware of the challenges of getting to the Monmouth location via public transport. Portland Airport is some 90 minutes away by car; but there is no direct transport link to Monmouth. As we mentioned on our website (https://zimfest.org/location/getting-to-zimfest/) the recommended route is to travel from the airport to Salem by bus or shuttle. The CARTS bus service Route 40, taken from the Salem Transit Center, then connects to WOU (stopping outside the Werner University Center). Here is the WOU link for the Route 40 bus schedule: https://www.wou.edu/online_catalog/display/transportation.php.
Two difficulties with this route have recently come to light: a) the transfer to the Transit Center in Salem may involve a walk of over one mile. This may not be a viable option for many travelers with luggage. b) It turns out the CARTS Route 40 bus service between Salem and Monmouth does not run on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer. Conference Services people at WOU have acknowledged to me the poor transport situation to their campus and noted that taxis are scarce and prohibitively expensive in Salem.
We are advising Zimfest participants who are traveling by public transport and need help with rides to post on Dandemutande. We hope those in Portland and the surrounding communities, aware of the difficulties, can step up with offers to pick people up, either in Portland or Salem. This is best coordinated through Dandemutande. At the festival we will have a ride board for transportation at the end of the festival. If there are any festival-goers who will have cars at Zimfest and can offer to make a run up to Salem (30-40 minutes) or even Portland, please write the organizing committee directly at gro.t1505866939sefmi1505866939z@510150586693921505866939.
Let’s all work together to make Zimfest 2015 a positive experience from start to finish!
Thank you,
Claire Jones
Zimfest 2015 Coordinator
Posted In: Festival Details
No Comments
Zimfest Reminders
Dear Zimfest Community,
Here are a few reminders:
Festival volunteers needed: Please log on to online registration to choose a volunteer task and time. Shifts are still available in every area — registration, concerts, workshops & marketplace. Go to: https://zimfest.org/volunteer/list/ (the program will not allow you to double-book workshops and volunteer shifts).
Housing registration closes July 28: Tuesday is the last day you can pre-register for on-campus housing, camping and meals. Go to: https://zimfest.org/location/housing/ for information on WOU housing.
Low enrollment workshops: We have had to cancel some workshops with low enrollment now to help ensure the best possible enrollment in the remaining workshops. If you have been thinking of taking a class that might be on the cusp, sign up now! Online registration for workshops will close on August 6.
Concert schedules are online at https://zimfest.org/overview/concerts/
Zimfest 2015 Organizing Committee
Enduring Rhythms ~ Gathering in Harmony
Posted In: Festival Details
No Comments
Calling all Zimfest Old Timers
Greetings,
The Zimfest Association Board of Directors is very interested in hearing how future Zimfests can better meet the needs and desires of experienced musicians and long-time Zimfest participants. At this year’s festival, The Board will be hosting a discussion on Saturday August 13 at 11:45 a.m.in the Backstage Room in Valsetz Dining Center to hear your feedback on this topic. Please join us, bring your lunch, bring your ideas, and help contribute to stronger Zimfests in the future! This is a lunch meeting, so get your food in the cafeteria at Valsetz and then come back out towards the entrance and turn left into the Backstage Room.
Hope to see you there!
Zimfest Association Board of Directors
Posted In: Festival Details
4 Comments
Drums and Mbira Needed for Zimfest Workshops
Hi all,
Zimfest needs loaner drums and mavembe/gandanga mbira for workshops.
If you have either a conga/djembe drum, or a mavembe/gandanga mbira that you are willing to loan, please bring it to the registration desk Thursday or Friday morning. We will check it in, label it with your name, and treat it as if it were our own.
Thanks!
Zimfest 2016 Organizing Committee
Zimfest 2016 Organizing Committee
Posted In: Festival Details
7 Comments
Zimfest Tips
Greetings Zimfest Participants,
There are now six days remaining before Zimfest 2016 launches! We have a few tips and reminders for Zimfest participants, whether you are new to the festival or an old hand:
- The weather forecast for Monmouth OR is for continued sunny and warm weather, likely to be in the 80s during the festival. Be sure to put on sunscreen and bring fans for your rooms. Like most colleges, Western Oregon University has no air conditioning in the dorms.
- Zimfest supplies (borrowed) marimbas and hosho for workshops, but it can be challenging procuring enough instruments for the many types of workshops we offer. If you have or can borrow a mbira in the tuning a workshop will be taught in, please bring it; otherwise the teacher or Zimfest will provide one. The same goes for drumming workshops; if you own or can borrow a drum for a workshop you are taking, please bring it. If you are taking a guitar workshop and have a guitar amp, please bring it as Zimfest cannot provide amps.
- Zimfest online registration for housing, dining and workshops is now closed, but you can still sign up for volunteer shifts here. Onsite registration will open at the festival at noon on Thursday August 11. You will then be able to enroll in workshops that still have space in them by going to the Registration Desk.
- Workshop registrations will close 15 minutes before the session starting time in order for staff to print final workshop rosters. In some cases latecomers may request a “golden ticket” to sign up for an open workshop up until the start time of the workshop.
- Very often bands performing at Zimfest like to sell their CDs after their shows. If you are performing on the evening concert stage, Zimfest can provide table space in the WUC West Lobby outside the Pacific Room concert hall. Please provide your own CD salespeople, as Zimfest volunteers cannot sell CDs for you.
Thanks for reading, and see you at the festival!
Zimfest 2016 Organizing Committee
Sing-Dance-Play! Tambai Tambai! Dlala-Dlala!
Posted In: Festival Details
No Comments
Less Than 1 Week To Go
Marimba … Mbira … Dance … Song … Drum
Hosho … Guitar … Chipendani … Presentations
Marimba … Mbira … Dance … Song … Drum
Hosho … Guitar … Chipendani … Presentations
Marimba … Mbira … Dance … Song … Drum
Hosho … Guitar … Chipendani … Presentations
Marimba … Mbira … Dance … Song … Drum
Hosho … Guitar … Chipendani … Presentations
Marimba … Mbira … Dance … Song … Drum
Hosho … Guitar … Chipendani … Presentations
Posted In: Festival Details
1 Comment
Volunteer Request
Zimfest is just two weeks away! The Organizing Committee is eagerly watching volunteer sign-ups to learn who can help pull final festival details together on Wednesday and Thursday, August 10 and 11.
Are you arriving in Monmouth on Wednesday or Thursday? If so, we can use your help setting up – particularly WORKSHOP INSTRUMENT SETUP, GENERAL FESTIVAL SETUP, SIGNAGE SETUP and COMPUTER ASSIST (at registration). If you do not have a task preference, sign up for a shift at the VOLUNTEER TABLE. Every task scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday is our first priority to fill.
Sign up here: https://zimfest.org/vol/volunteer-tasks/. With your assistance, we look forward to preparing the space for another fabulous Zimfest!
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” —Oscar Wilde
Posted In: Festival Details
3 Comments
Registration Deadline Reminder
Greetings Zimfest community,
Registration is going well and the excitement is building – Zimfest 2016 is only three weeks away! We wanted to remind you that there will be no housing available at the festival unless you book it in advance, and you must make your reservations online as soon as possible. Here are the important deadlines to be aware of:
- July 25 (Monday): Sign up and pay for all housing by this date.
- July 28 (Thursday): Workshops with enrollments of less than three (marimba) or two (all other workshops) will be canceled.
- August 3 (Wednesday): Last day to drop workshops
See Registration Deadlines on the website for more information. To register for housing, meals, workshops, and concert tickets, go to https://register.zimfest.org.
Keep up with workshop changes: https://zimfest.org/news/festival-updates/
Sing-Dance-Play! Tambai Tambai! Dlala-Dlala!
See you soon,
Claire Jones, Festival Coordinator
On behalf of the Zimfest 2016 Organizing Committee
Posted In: Festival Details
No Comments
Zimfest 2015 Survey
We hope you were able to attend Zimfest this year. (If not, we look forward to seeing you at a later Zimfest!)
Thank you for coming to Zimfest 2015! We all hope you had a wonderful time. As we have done in past years, we would like to hear about your experiences so that we can make Zimfest better in the years to come. And to make that easier for you, this year’s survey is much simpler than in the past. Please take a few moments to share your thoughts about what works and what can be better. You are also welcome to share any other thoughts you have about Zimfest or Zimfest Association. We welcome your input!
https://zimfest.org/overview/survey/
Thank you!
2015 Zimfest Organizing Committee
Zimfest Association Board of Directors
Posted In: Festival Details
No Comments
Final Announcement Before Zimfest 2015
Dear Zimfest Community,
This will be our final announcement before Zimfest 2015 launches on Thursday August 13. The excitement is building, but there is still much to do! We have a few comments and reminders for Zimfest participants, whether you are new to the festival or an old hand:
- The weather forecast for Monmouth OR is for temperatures in the high 70s on Thursday, increasing to the 80s next weekend. Be sure to put on sunscreen and bring fans for your rooms. Like most colleges, Western Oregon University has no air conditioning in the dorms or most of the classrooms.
- Zimfest supplies (borrowed) marimbas and hosho for workshops, but it can be challenging procuring enough instruments for the many types of workshops we offer. If you have or can borrow a mbira in the tuning a workshop will be taught in, please bring it; otherwise the teacher or Zimfest will provide one. The same goes for drumming workshops; if you own or can borrow a drum for a workshop you are taking, please bring it. We are also requesting those can lend drums for our workshops to please do so. If you are taking a guitar workshop and have a guitar amp, please bring it as Zimfest cannot provide amps.
- Zimfest online registration for housing, dining and workshops is now closed, but you may still sign up for volunteer shifts at https://zimfest.org/volunteer/list/. Onsite registration will open at the festival at noon on Thursday. You will be able at that point to rent rooms or additional nights in your already-reserved rooms, purchase camping passes and/or enroll in workshops that still have space in them. You can no longer drop workshops that you have signed up and paid for; see rules about workshops and cancellations at https://zimfest.org/wksps/about-workshops/ (scroll down to the bottom).
- Very often bands performing at Zimfest like to sell their CDs after their shows. If you are on the outdoor stage in the afternoon, the Kutsinhira people may be able to sell your CD for you; inquire at the Kutsinhira Booth in the marketplace. If you are performing on the Evening concert stage, Zimfest can provide table space in the WUC West Lobby outside the Pacific Room concert hall. Please provide your own CD salespeople, as Zimfest volunteers have other tasks to carry out and cannot sell CDs for you.
Thanks for reading, and see you at the festival!
Enduring Rhythms ~ Gathering in Harmony
Zimfest 2015 Organizing Committee
Posted In: Festival Details
No Comments
Zimfest Workshop Cancellations
Hello Zimfest community,
Yesterday was the deadline for cancellation of workshops with low enrollments. Please check the Workshop Changes page (https://zimfest.org/news/festival-updates/#workshop-changes) for a list of cancellations and changes. If you have been dropped from a cancelled workshop and have Zimfest credit, browse the workshop list for a replacement. There are still many open workshops in all categories: dance, mbira, marimba, presentations, songs and games!
You will have until August 5th to register for any open workshops, drop workshops or transfer to other workshops. On that date, workshop registrations will be frozen until the festival and no changes will be allowed. During the festival, students may not drop or transfer to another workshop unless the workshop they are enrolled in has been significantly changed by the festival organizers (such as a different teacher.) See the page About Workshops for more information on cancellations and situations in which you may apply for a refund (https://zimfest.org/wksps/about-workshops/).
Enjoy the blue moon tonight!
Zimfest 2015 Organizing Committee
Enduring Rhythms ~ Gathering in Harmony
Posted In: Festival Details
No Comments
Transportation to and from Zimfest
Dear Zimfest community,
As Zimfest 2015 at Western Oregon University draws near, we on the organizing committee have become painfully aware of the challenges of getting to the Monmouth location via public transport. Portland Airport is some 90 minutes away by car; but there is no direct transport link to Monmouth. As we mentioned on our website (https://zimfest.org/location/getting-to-zimfest/) the recommended route is to travel from the airport to Salem by bus or shuttle. The CARTS bus service Route 40, taken from the Salem Transit Center, then connects to WOU (stopping outside the Werner University Center). Here is the WOU link for the Route 40 bus schedule: https://www.wou.edu/online_catalog/display/transportation.php.
Two difficulties with this route have recently come to light: a) the transfer to the Transit Center in Salem may involve a walk of over one mile. This may not be a viable option for many travelers with luggage. b) It turns out the CARTS Route 40 bus service between Salem and Monmouth does not run on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer. Conference Services people at WOU have acknowledged to me the poor transport situation to their campus and noted that taxis are scarce and prohibitively expensive in Salem.
We are advising Zimfest participants who are traveling by public transport and need help with rides to post on Dandemutande. We hope those in Portland and the surrounding communities, aware of the difficulties, can step up with offers to pick people up, either in Portland or Salem. This is best coordinated through Dandemutande. At the festival we will have a ride board for transportation at the end of the festival. If there are any festival-goers who will have cars at Zimfest and can offer to make a run up to Salem (30-40 minutes) or even Portland, please write the organizing committee directly at gro.t1505866939sefmi1505866939z@510150586693921505866939.
Let’s all work together to make Zimfest 2015 a positive experience from start to finish!
Thank you,
Claire Jones
Zimfest 2015 Coordinator
Posted In: Festival Details
No Comments
Zimfest Reminders
Dear Zimfest Community,
Here are a few reminders:
Festival volunteers needed: Please log on to online registration to choose a volunteer task and time. Shifts are still available in every area — registration, concerts, workshops & marketplace. Go to: https://zimfest.org/volunteer/list/ (the program will not allow you to double-book workshops and volunteer shifts).
Housing registration closes July 28: Tuesday is the last day you can pre-register for on-campus housing, camping and meals. Go to: https://zimfest.org/location/housing/ for information on WOU housing.
Low enrollment workshops: We have had to cancel some workshops with low enrollment now to help ensure the best possible enrollment in the remaining workshops. If you have been thinking of taking a class that might be on the cusp, sign up now! Online registration for workshops will close on August 6.
Concert schedules are online at https://zimfest.org/overview/concerts/
Zimfest 2015 Organizing Committee
Enduring Rhythms ~ Gathering in Harmony
Posted In: Festival Details
No Comments
