Who needs 80 days to travel the world in order to sample authentic delicacies.
Oxford residents can spend less than 80 minutes, or more if they would like, sampling international food at Oxford High School before the OHS Choir program presents ‘Journey, A Travel Around the Musical World,? on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.
The international food fair will start at 5 p.m. in the OHS Preforming Arts Center lobby and feature samples from different countries.
The fair will run till 6:45 p.m.
‘It’s an evening of escaping Oxford and hitting cultures around the world through music and taste,? said OHS Choir Director Christopher Card.
Instead of having the food prepared by OHS kitchen staff, families from Oxford, representing different nationalities, will come in and cook dishes that are authentic to their culture.
‘We have families that come from different countries and we are tapping into those resources in the community that can provide this truly authentic food,? Card said. ‘It’s just a great time to share that culture and heritage.?
Patrons will be able to purchase tickets for $1 per plate, providing them an opportunity to sample large portions of food from different stations. All proceeds will go to wards helping the OHS vocalists with their trip to Carnegie Hall in April of next year.
Once the fair is complete, the public can enjoy a free concert with music performances from Romania, India, Korea, Mexico, China, Africa, Cherokee Indian and Ireland.
Card explained that he initially wasn’t looking to do a theme about music from around the world, but considered it after finding ‘so many exceptional arrangements of music from different countries.?
‘I wasn’t looking to go in that direction, but when I started seeing all this music that I was coming across, I noted that here is a theme,? Card added.
The hard part for Card was finding authentic musical arrangement. ‘You might have a song based on a style of Africa, but not a true African folk song,? he explained. He further explained that a key for him was to get music that not only challenged his groups, but was something the groups would want to sing and an audience would want to hear.
What Card ended up with was high energy music designed to compliment the authentic food served in the lobby.
Movies will also accompany the music, giving the concert a multimedia feel. ‘It is quite the musical experience,? Card said.
Card is looking for families or individuals who would like to participate in the food fair. If interested, contact Card at (248) 969-5168.