OneBeat

Foot percussionist Aditi Bhagwat, of Indian, dances as fellows with OneBeat rehearse on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. OneBeat is an intentional cultural exchange program that brings together over 30 young musicians from around the world to live together and write and perform music. The program is an initiative of U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Last month, I went out to New Smyrna Beach for The New York Times to cover the rehearsals of OneBeat, a musical collaborative program sponsored by the State Department that brought together 30 musicians from around the world.  In short, they took some highly talented musicians, threw them in a room with the express purpose of making music and then taking the show on tour.

More after the jump.... 

Everyone was super cool and chill; it was all about creativity and making music. They were set up at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, which was an entire compound devoted to artists and creativity.  After watching them rehearse all day, we went to their debut performance at a local art gallery that was packed beyond belief.

My personal highlight was listening to traditional Polish music being played on the back loading dock while it rained.  Of course, it didnt rain hard enough to make it photogenic.

Thanks to all the musicians whom I worked around.

Paula Montecalm dances as musicians with OneBeat perform on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Arts on Douglas gallery in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Hatian drummer Johnbern Thomas, right, plays with Dafnis Prieto as fellows with OneBeat rehearse on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Parfum Zola, a percussionist from the Democratic Republic of Congo, plays as fellows with OneBeat rehearse on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Helio Vanimal, of Mozambique, left, talks with Cuban drummer Dafnis Prieto, and Hatian drummer Johnbern Thomas as fellows with OneBeat rehearse on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. 

Singer and songwriters Sidse Holte, of Denmark, right, sings alongside Nina Ogot, of Kenya, as fellows with OneBeat perform on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Arts on Douglas gallery in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Aquil Charlton, of Chicago, Il., is reflected in the display of a laptop while he spins a turntable as fellows with OneBeat rehearse on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Hungarian singer Vera Jonas sings while musicians Wael Jegham, of Tunisia, left, Tareq Abboushi, of Palestine and Aquil Charlton, rear, play as fellows with OneBeat rehearse on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Tareq Abboushi, of Palestine, plays as fellows with OneBeat rehearse on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Singer Vera Jonas, of Hungary, Wei Wei, of China, and vocalist Song-Hee Kwon, of South Korea, right, sit outside and sing as fellows with OneBeat rehearse on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Wael Jegham, of Tunisia, Eva Salina Primack, of New York, center, and Weronika Partyka, of Poland, play as fellows with OneBeat rehearse on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Sri Joko Raharjo carries a gerber as fellows with OneBeat rehearse on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.