The Nashville Symphony will present its first-ever world music festival from June 6-8 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. This three-day festival, sponsored by Target, will focus on music of the Americas featuring evening performances by such acclaimed artists as Latin country singer Rick Trevino, ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and Brazilian jazz pianist Sergio Mendes and his band. (Note: The Nashville Symphony will not perform at this festival).

In addition, the Symphony will provide free world music performances during lunch hours in the Symphony Center’s Garden Courtyard with themed international food selections available for purchase at the Symphony Café. Artists and menus will be announced at a later date. 

“The Nashville Symphony has always wanted to present a world music festival to celebrate music and cultures from around the world,” said Alan D. Valentine, president and CEO of the Nashville Symphony. “Now that we have this amazing space and an inaugural line-up of top musicians from all corners of the Americas, we hope this exciting event will be the first of many more to come.”

Wednesday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m.: Hispanic Influences in Country Music

As a nod to the CMA Music Festival, Latin country singer/songwriter Rick Trevino will provide a different twist to the country music activities as he performs Latin-infused country music, produced and co-written by friend Raul Malo. Trevino, a Grammy-award winning Texas native, is recognized for his eclectic mix of musical influences, which is reflected in his forthcoming album Whole Town Blue, a combination of South Texas swing, New Orleans honky-tonk and Spanish bolero. For more information on Rick Trevino, please visit his Web site at www.ricktrevino.com.  

Thursday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m.: Music and Dance of the PacificIslands

Known for his lightning-fast fingers and improvisation, 28-year-old ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro shatters all musical boundaries by performing unheard-of feats on his four-string instrument. Shimabukuro has great respect for traditional Hawaiian music but considers it his calling to reveal the true versatility of the ukulele.

Also visiting from Hawaii are slack key guitarist Jeff Peterson, a Hawaii native whose unique instrument dates from the early 19th century, and the Hawaiian music group Kohala, presenting an acoustic blend of island jazz. Enhancing this performance from the Pacific will also be traditional Hula dancers and a native Hawaiian chanter. For more information on Jake Shimabukuro, visit his web site www.jakeshimabukuro.com.   

Friday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m.: Brazilian Rhythms

One of the world’s greatest ambassadors of Brazil’s signature sound, pianist Sergio Mendes switched from classical to jazz at an early age and started his brilliant music career in the 1960s in clubs around Rio de Janeiro.  A 1964 album by Mendes and his band Bossa Rio, arranged by the great Tom Jobim, helped explode the worldwide interest in bossa nova that continues over three decades later. This world music festival’s closing performer and his band will revisit a lifetime of monumental Brazilian music.

Tickets for evening performances of the Target World Music Festival: Music of the Americas are $10-$60 and can be purchased by calling the Nashville Symphony box office at 615.687.6400 or by visiting www.nashvillesymphony.org. Parking for all events is free at the SunTrust parking garage located at Fourth Avenue and Commerce.