First Friday: Sicilian & Italian Folk Music with Michela Musolino and Rosa Tatuata

Experience the vibrant traditions of Sicilian and Southern Italian folk music with Michela Musolino and her ensemble, Rosa Tatuata, in a performance presented in connection with the exhibition The Future Was Then: The Changing Face of Fascist Italy. This program highlights the resilience of cultural expression in times of change, showing how folk music continues to bridge past and present.

Drawing on years of research into traditional instruments—including the tamburo (Sicilian frame drum), organetto, marranzano (jaw’s harp), and zampogna (Southern Italian bagpipes)—Musolino and Rosa Tatuata weave a tapestry of sound that blends old-world authenticity with fresh interpretation. 

Join us for an evening of music that celebrates resilience, joy, and cultural memory—an opportunity to hear how ancient traditions continue to resonate in our world today.

Michela Musolino is an internationally recognized Sicilian-American singer who explores her cultural roots and shares them with the world through the study and reinterpretation of the folk songs of Sicily and Southern Italy. With voice and frame drum, Musolino sings songs of daily life, songs of feast days, songs of protest, and songs of love, weaving the ancient and the modern into powerful melodies. She is the founder of Rosa’s Drum, a cultural events and educational organization which promotes and teaches folk traditions from Sicily and Southern Italy.

Accessibility Note: Masks and clear masks are available free of charge at the museum. Assistive listening devices and stools are available. ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or a CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) is also available upon request. Please contact access@posterhouse.org or (914) 295-2387 to request interpretation services and to address any other accessibility needs. For other event-related questions, please contact info@posterhouse.org.