“How come we’ve never heard of this beautiful instrument until now?” This was posted by a first-year college student to my world music course discussion board recently. He voiced what many of his ...

FITCHBURG — Fitchburg State University will present a kora performance by internationally renowned composer, musician and educator John Hughes at 4 p.m. Monday, in the main lounge at Hammond Hall.

The South African musician spent a decade translating the centuries-old repertoire of the West African kora. He emerged with his a unique sound that isn’t restricted to the grid of the staff or the ...