This week marks the first time in which the University of Florida School of Music’s Brazilian Music Institute (BMI) will be presented in South Florida. Founded and organized by Welson Tremura in 2001, BMI is a training ground for emerging Brazilian musicians and students. Previously held in Gainesville, Florida, this year’s event taking place through May 15, 2015 will be held at Broward College’s Bailey Hall as a result of a three-year award from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to bring BMI to Broward County. The University of Florida School of Music submitted one of 1,100 proposals in response to the 7^th annual Knight Arts Challenge, which posed the question, “What’s your best idea for the arts?” The school’s proposal to bring BMI to Broward County, which has one of the one of the largest Brazilian communities in the U.S., was one of 47 ideas awarded a total of $2.29 million in December 2014 with the goal of bringing South Florida together through the arts. “The College of the Arts was thrilled to be among the select organizations to receive funds through the 2014 Knights Arts Challenge,” says Lucinda Lavelli, dean of the University of Florida College of the Arts. “The Brazilian Music Institute has a long history at the University of Florida of collaboration and exposing students to Brazilian music. We have enjoyed working with new partners, such as Broward College, as the program has expanded and moved to South Florida.” BMI brings together outstanding artists for a weeklong event designed to extend the experience and expand the possibilities of learning and performing Brazilian music. At this year’s institute, emerging musicians and students are working with special artist Antonio Adolfo (piano), Hermógenes Araújo (percussion), Alexander Crook (drum set/percussion), Larry Crook (percussion), Beatriz Malnic (voice), Ulisses Rocha (guitar), James Sain (electric bass) and Welson Tremura (voice/guitar). Through daily individual workshops and group rehearsals, participants will expand their Brazilian music techniques. “In addition to the hands-on instruction the public is invited to enjoy two Ritmo & Romance closing concerts on Friday, May 15 at 8 p.m. at Broward College’s Bailey Hall and on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 4 p.m. in the Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall in Gainesville, Florida,” says Tremura. “Audience members will enjoy a traditional Brazilian repertoire with unique and original interpretations by world-class Brazilian musicians and selected BMI participants.” Numerous organizations have offered their support of the this year’s institute, including ArtServe, Banco do Brasil Americas, Broward College, Consulate General of Brazil in Miami, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Dr. Madelyn Lockhart, Santa Fe College, UF Center for Latin American Studies, UF Center for World Arts, U.S. Department of Education Title VI Program and Visit Gainesville. We look forward to sharing more updates about the institute and outreach held in area public schools in the coming weeks.