Musical Medley at Wolf Trap by Jessica Forres Beginning this month, a medley of musical styles comes to Vienna, Va., as The Barns of Wolf Trap presents a series of concerts celebrating different cultures from around the world. Performing first in the series is the group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The groupís musical style, isicathamiya, which originated in the mines of South Africa during apartheid, is characteristic of the traditions of the ìold South Africa.î The Zulu harmonies of the all-male choral singing group have captivated audiences as well as top musicians around the worldóincluding Paul Simon, who incorporated their traditional sounds into his ìGracelandî albumóand this distinct musical style also nabbed Ladysmith Black Mambazo a Grammy award. The international beat goes on with Habib Koite, a guitarist and storyteller from Mali whose spirited music integrates his Malian roots with Memphis blues and the Cuban samba. Audiences can explore more cultural overlays with Alejandro Escovedo. The Mexican-American songwriter, along with his band and string quartet, prove that the concept of home cannot be described by words alone. Escovedo combines rock, folk and country to reveal the experiences of immigrant life in the United States, offering insight into the divided emotions that come with living between two cultures. The performances continue well into the spring. In March and April, two Celtic groupsóthe Bonnie Rideout Scottish Trio and Altanócelebrate the musical heritage of the British Isle with their renditions of pulse-pounding Gaelic tunes, which are sure to melt away that last bit of winter chill. Ladysmith Black Mambazo performs Feb. 10 and 11; Alejandro Escovedo performs Feb. 21; Habib Koite performs Feb. 27; Altan performs March 19 and 20; and the Bonnie Rideout Scottish Trio performs April 27 at The Barns of Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna, Va. For more information, please call (703) 938-2404 or visit www.wolftrap.org. Jessica Forres is an editorial intern at The Washington Diplomat.