Walter Kitundu

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Walter Jesse Kitundu
Born (1973-07-03) July 3, 1973 (age 50)
Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
Occupation(s)Musical instrument builder, graphic artist, musical composer
AwardsMacArthur fellowship (2008)
Websitewww.kitundu.com

Walter Jesse Kitundu (born July 3, 1973) is a

San Francisco, California
.

Biography

Kitundu was born in Rochester, Minnesota and spent his early years in Tanzania. He returned to Minnesota from age 8 to 25, then moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in approximately 1998. He currently lives in Chicago.

Career and Works

stringed instrument incorporating a phonograph. After hearing the instrument, the Kronos Quartet hired Kitundu as their "instrument builder in residence". In addition to a phonoharp he also built a "phonoharp" for each of the quartet's members.[1] For the song "Tèw semagn hagèré" on their 2009 album Floodplain, he created new instruments inspired by the begena, an Ethiopian 10-string lyre.[2]

As of 2008 Kitundu is a "Multimedia Artist" with the

Kitundu is also a wildlife photographer, with a specialty in hawks and other raptors.

Awards

In September 2008, Kitundu won a

References

  1. ^ a b c Sam Whiting (2008-09-23). "MacArthur awarded to Walter Kitundu". San Francisco Chronicle.
  2. ^ Tsioulcas, Anastasia (2009). Floodplain (CD booklet). Kronos Quartet. Nonesuch Records. #518349.

External links