Run from February 3rd through 13th, 2020, Found Sound Haiti included 10 days of programming organized in collaboration with Jacmel’s Audio Institute, Haiti's only advanced school for audio engineering. Funded as part of an award given by the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, the Found Sound team led a series of workshops and events conceptualized with OneBeat alumni, jazz drummer and organizer Johnbern Thomas. 

Classes at the Audio Institute included a range of listening, improvisation and composition-based exercises. As part of the workshops, students were tasked with capturing the noises of the neighborhood, including ocean waves, livestock, neighbors and other nature sounds, which we shared as a communal sound bank. Students were then broken up into ensembles and challenged to incorporate these sounds into the creation of original material, either in the form of inspiration or direct sampling. Beyond morning workshops and communal lunches, we held optional afternoon classes focused on specific topics like Jazz performance and freelancing as a musician.

In addition to Johnbern, the Found Sound team was joined by Haitian drummer and producer Val Jeanty, who lead a series of rhythm workshops and chanting using traditional Haitian Creole, and pianist Aaron Goldberg, who focused on ensemble performance technique. Port-au-Prince based activist and researcher Jessica Hsu also helped to plan logistics and organize the program.

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Outside of workshops at the Audio Institute, we held a Street Studio and final concert at Hotel Florita, in downtown Jacmel. These events paired with local art exhibited by local artist Ronald Mevs, collaborations with town traditional drummers and local bands Richecard Cine Quartet and Extension Musique. We plan on soon releasing a Found Sound Haiti Mixtape, featuring music written and recorded