The Chicago Didjeridu Chorus was perhaps Chicago’s largest acoustic tribal percussion ensemble for 30 years, featuring the Australian Didjeridu as its centerpiece.
In the past few years, CDC has become a much smaller ensemble as some members have moved away from Chicago, while others dropped out due to health challenges.
The Didjeridu is an ancient Australian instrument that has been used by various indigenous tribes in the Northern region of Australia for at least 6,000 years. The culture from whence it comes is said to be 45,000 years old.
Founded by Tim Porcelli in 1991 as a Didjeridu Storytelling group, the Chicago Didjeridu Chorus grew to include handmade instruments from indigenous cultures around the world, including: Didjeridu (Australia), hand drums from Africa, India, Puerto Rico, Siberia, Cuba, Indonesia and the Middle East, Tibetan Singing Bowls, Balinese Temple Gong, various wooden flutes, the Kora (African Gourd Harp from Senegal), Tongue Drums (USA), Zithers (USA), Sitar, Tabla, Naal, Dholak (India) and an ever expanding variety of other percussion instruments.
The Chorus lineup has changed and evolved through the years. In its most recent configuration, the lineup had included (in order of seniority): Tim Porcelli (Didjeridu, flutes, frame drums, misc percussion), Dragan Milovanovic (Didjeridu and Bodhran), Carl Pedigo (Tibetan singing bowls and percussion), Kim DeVore (Didjeridu, flutes and percussion), and Terry Reimer (Congas, flutes, misc percussion)
Other folks who have played with the CDC in the past include Dan Plovanich, Catherine Myers, Dania Calandrino, Steve Riddle, Joy Wolf, Jim Cote, Lynda Sanford, Kristin Cone, Jonathan Anthony, Bob DeVore, Jennifer Ruggieri, Ed Anderson, Jerry Sanders, Trina Fischer, Abdul Jami, Alexander Duval, Pam (Djembe) and many others.
The CDC has had a long history of collaborations/performances with many innovative dancers and artists including Bec McNamara, Callie Evans, Andrea Mattson, Mari Miller, Whitney Counts, the SAIC Belly Dance Troupe, Read My Hips Tribal Belly Dance Troupe, and many others.
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