April 20, 2026

Mihail Babus and Ethan Burke will present their student project, A Celebration of Choro!, on Wednesday, April 22 at 7:30 PM in Ades Performance Space. The program features music from the choro (or chorinho) genre, which originated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the late 19th century.  

Ethan and Mihail spoke with us about the music being performed, their inspiration for the project, and why you should attend! 

ABOUT ETHAN BURKE

Ethan Burke (MM ’27) is a versatile clarinetist from Orlando, Florida studying under the tutelage of David Krakauer. Ethan’s musical studies are currently focused on contemporary classical and Brazilian music, and he has premiered several works in both genres. He has performed in many prestigious venues worldwide, including the Dr. Phillips Center and Madison Square Garden. Ethan earned his Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance and Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from Florida State University, where he performed in jazz bands, orchestras, and world music ensembles. As director of FSU’s Brazilian music ensemble, Grupo Jaraguá, Ethan led the group to perform at major Tallahassee venues and record an EP. Ethan also brings a strong technical background, and is also pursuing a Master in Science in Data Analytics at Georgia Tech. He currently works at the Orto Center at Manhattan School of Music, as he continues to blend his expertise in technology with music.

ABOUT MIHAIL BABUS 

Mihail Babus (MM ’27) is an up-and-coming percussionist who has performed across the United States. He has been instructed by numerous professional artists such as Joseph Gramley, Kevin Bobo, Joseph Galvin, Andy Miller, John Tafoya, Matt Ward, David Cossin, and John Ferrari. Alongside a classical training he has also studied Afro-Colombian, Afro-Cuban, and Afro-Brazilian folkloric music and percussion. From orchestra to student work premiers, Mihail is committed to realizing all manners of projects. Such projects led him to work with artists Greg Beyer, Andy Akiho, and Ted Atkatz in venues such as the Colburn School and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis. Mihail graduated from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with a Bachelor of Music in percussion performance and is currently studying for his master’s degree in contemporary percussion performance at Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of David Cossin and John Ferrari.

Tell us about the music being performed!

Ethan and Mihail: Choro is a (mostly) instrumental style that originated in Brazil in the late 19th century. It is known as the “father of samba, and the grandfather of bossa nova.” The music is characterized by its playful yet virtuosic melodies, driving 16th-note rhythms, and the spirit of “malícia”. The term malícia refers to how members of the band try to throw each other off during a performance through changes in the rhythm or harmonies, but experts are always able to run with the punches! The core roles of a choro group consist of a melody instrument, a “center” instrument which plays the chords, a bass or counterpoint instrument, and a pandeiro to hold down the running 16th-note groove. A pandeiro looks a lot like a tambourine but plays the roles of several percussion instruments all in one. Choro music is very fun and spontaneous, often played in casual settings like bars, but the music itself can be incredibly challenging. Choro music has stood the test of time, and contemporary choro music is still being written and recorded today by several amazing artists.

Tell us about A Celebration of Choro!

Ethan and Mihail: The project is a major milestone in our choro journey! In our preparation, we researched the choro genre through textbooks and other online resources, where we learned about the history of Brazil and the societal impact of choro. We also consulted several MSM and FSU faculty for their expertise, participated in choro jam sessions at Barbés and Dizzy’s Club, and took weekly performance classes with Regional Samauma, a choro group based in NYC. Everyone involved in the project has learned so much about the style, and I hope we can continue to grow as an ensemble and play this music at MSM and around the city!

What is the inspiration behind this project?

Ethan and Mihail: We both studied Brazilian music in undergrad and wanted to continue our studies at MSM. Ethan kicked off the project, inspired by his time as the director of the Brazilian music ensemble “Grupo Jaraguá” at FSU. We seek to educate others about choro music, and spread the joy of the music. Ideally, we’ll will continue to perform around the city after the project has concluded.

What do you hope the audience takes away from this performance?

Ethan and Mihail:  We hope to show everyone the joy of choro music; it’s a genre that several instruments can perform. We would love to see all kinds of people learn to play the music! It is also a perfect introduction to improvisation for classically oriented students, as improvisation isn’t necessary, but encouraged. It’s also important to note that despite being very challenging at times, choro is a very forgiving style of music, as you always repeat the melody!

If you could ask a composer, living or deceased, a question, what would it be?

Ethan and Mihail: I would ask Chiquinha Gonzaga, one of the founders of the choro genre, about her experiences in rodas de choro at the time, and her story of acceptance as one of the only female chorões of the time.

Any fun summer plans?

Ethan and Mihail: Along with Sarah Pedlar and Yuval Medina, we will be participating in the Yarn/Wire festival hosted at the Manhattan School of Music!