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OXFORD, OHIO - Wednesday, February 27th at 7:00pm, Native American vocalist Joanne Shenandoah will perform at Hall Auditorium at Miami University. On behalf of the Miami University's Center for American and World Cultures and Division of Student Affairs, we would like to personally invite you to this event, which promises to be an uplifting evening of wonderful music.

Shenandoah, who grew up as a member of the Wolf Clan Oneida Nation Iroquois Confederacy in New York, has recently reached new heights of recognition and success. In the past 10 years, in addition to touring the world performing, she has released 11 albums and won numerous awards for her music. She has composed scores for films, co-written a book, and has been the subject of a documentary film about her life. Most recently, she was the first Native American to be nominated for a Grammy.

Shenandoah, who has been singing all her life, has written hundreds of songs of all types of genres. Her love for singing was influenced by music greats like Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Ray Charles and Karen Carpenter. She believes her family and Iroquois background influenced her love of music. In fact, the elders of her tribe chose her name, which means 'She Sings,' because of the potential they saw in her future even as a young girl.

Shenandoah learned most of her musical skill from her family and by practicing on her own. While in school she studied voice, but also worked in the music department where she had access to many types of musical instruments. Because of that, she learned how to play the flute, clarinet, horn and many other instruments.

Shenandoah believes what makes her different from many artists is the way she has always looked at music. "It was not from a technical aspect. For me, music was more emotional and gave you a sense of sharing the soul, you know? I was in choir, band, whatever there was, I was in it as a way to walk through life" she said.

Please join us and enjoy an evening with Joanne Shenandoah and her music. Feel free to share this invitation with others you think would enjoy attending. Although the concert is free, it is a ticketed event. Tickets will be available at the Oxford campus Shriver Center Box Office starting February 18th. Tickets can also be held for you at the "will call" window at Hall Auditorium the night of the show. To make those arrangements, please send an email. We believe that the tickets will go quickly and encourage you to respond as soon as possible. It will be greatly appreciated if groups from the same organization or area can make "hold ticket" requests together.

Source: PRVisions, a unit of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).