Gregory Acker

• Website: http://www.soundcommlou.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Since: 2014
• DJ Calendar

Gregory Acker is a Teaching Artist from Louisville, Kentucky. He provides community-building world music workshops and related arts activities for groups of all ages and abilities. As a musician, instrument-builder, and arts educator, he works with Arts for All Kentucky, Kentucky Performing Arts (Artsthrive, ArtsRise—arts in healing and education), The Village School of Louisville, and numerous churches, community arts and culture groups, and youth treatment centers. He has worked in the field of world arts for recent immigrants and refugees through the Americana Community Center, and with Kentucky Refugee Ministries. Recently, along with his partner Brenda, he developed the BAM! Bucket of Art & Music, for at-home explorations of art and music by young people, for sponsors including KRM and the ChildLife Program at UK Children’s Hospital.

Mr. Acker holds an MA in Ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University in Connecticut, and is a former Peace Corps volunteer in two countries in Africa, with further extended study experience in India and Indonesia. He has taught world music courses for the University of Louisville, Indiana University Southeast and Jefferson Community College. He has received grants from the NEA, Southern Arts Federation, Greater Louisville Fund for the Arts, the City of Louisville, and was selected by the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation as “one of America’s most skilled and experienced community artists.”

As a musician, Mr. Acker performs with the Kuvebo Drum Ensemble (traditional West African music), and with Yapa!—Andean flutes and fusion music.