Trinity College Professor Recognized for Impactful Work with Samba Fest

Trinity College Professor of Music Eric A. Galm and the Trinity Samba Fest have received the Society for Ethnomusicology’s 2024 Judith McCulloh Public Sector Award, recognizing the valuable impact that this cross-cultural event has had on the public. Samba Fest is a Brazilian and world music festival produced by Galm and Trinity College that is admission-free and open to all.

The award also includes special recognition for the Meninos de Minas and the Associação das Guardas do Congado de Itabira, both located in Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil, who have participated in Samba Fest.

This award is given every other year to an individual or organization carrying out a major public-sector project that has attained significant recognition, and whose ongoing work contributes significantly to the public’s understanding of ethnomusicology—the study of music in its social and cultural contexts. Recipients of the award demonstrate an overall impact on partner communities outside of academic institutions, along with high-quality artistry and scholarship.

“I am excited to receive this award because it is not only an honor and privilege, but also opens up possibilities and new avenues for us to expand Samba Fest on an even greater scale,” said Galm.

“Samba Fest was created to showcase musical abilities and bring in people from Hartford and beyond to celebrate,” added Galm, who launched Samba Fest in 1997 with support from a Mellon Foundation Global-Urban Initiative Award administered by Trinity. His students studied with local musicians and presented their findings at an information booth during Samba Fest, showcasing the history and artistry of the musicians who were performing on the main stage.

Programming during the weeks preceding the event generally includes public school performances, interactive music and dance workshops, “sneak peek” concerts, and other activities. The festivals have offered diverse activities over the years, including photographic exhibitions, film screenings, and conferences, which help to promote Brazilian music and culture beyond the stage of musical performance.

Galm books musicians from around the world to perform at Samba Fest each spring on Trinity’s campus. To date, the Samba Fest has featured the United States and Connecticut debut performances for 13 artists and groups, and has presented nearly 50 different artists and groups.

Galm also created an academic performance course called the “Trinity Samba Ensemble,” open to all students, no matter their musical ability or previous experience. The Trinity Samba Ensemble also performs as part of the event’s annual musical lineup.

“This festival is important to Trinity on many levels—first and foremost in the way students can bring together academic material with cultural experts,” Galm said. “They can learn from reference sources and books, but they gain a full understanding when hearing the way people’s lived experiences and music connects to their culture.”

Since its creation more than 25 years ago, the Samba Fest has grown from an audience of 300 people to an audience of 4,000 in a single day. The festival has engaged directly with more than 70,000 people, and even more through live broadcasts on Trinity College’s WRTC-FM radio station and international streaming online. The event has showcased Brazilian artists and groups, along with Latin Grammy-winning artists. As a result of its success, Samba Fest received significant funding, both private and public, and has attained national and international recognition.

Samba Fest has become a signature annual event at the College. “When you look at Trinity’s mission statement, the Samba Fest embodies the idea of engaging and connecting throughout the Greater Hartford region,” said Galm.

“I see the work I have done as a labor of love,” Galm added. “We are so lucky to have a strong network of artists collaborating, performing, and sharing their cultures with the community.”

The 2025 Samba Fest will be held on the Trinity campus on Saturday April 26, 2025. “We have already received interest in participating from Trinity’s Brazilian-American Student Association, the Consulate General of Brazil in Hartford, and Samba’s Cuisine Food Truck, just for starters,” Galm said. “We are in conversation with several artists throughout Brazil, who are currently seeking funding to help support their presence at this event.” Information and artist lineups will be updated at sambafest.com and facebook.com/sambafest.

To learn more about Samba Fest, click here.