Palaver Strings

Palaver Strings, a nonprofit ensemble based in Portland, Maine, centers its mission on community outreach through both performances and instructional programs. The organization has maintained its own Palaver Music Center since the late 2010s, an educational facility that reaches over 300 students annually.

The ensemble came together in 2014, taking its name from the palaver hut, a traditional Liberian venue for communal discussion and dispute resolution. That term traces back to the West African Portuguese word “palavra.” One of its earliest public appearances occurred at a fundraiser for the Liberian Education Fund, co-established by violinist Maya French, a founding member. Roughly a dozen musicians comprise the group, with membership varying modestly over time. Although each participant received conservatory training, the members explain on the ensemble’s site that “we were trained to play behind closed doors, in formal halls, for a select few who already ‘get it.’ As we experienced the power of music in hospitals, classrooms, and shelters, we started asking why we play and what music can do.” French holds the post of managing director, yet every musician shares the designation of co-artistic director within a fully cooperative structure.

The ensemble has appeared across numerous American venues and maintained residencies at the Boston Center for the Arts between 2017 and 2019, at Rockport Music in Massachusetts from 2019 to 2020, and at Bay Chamber Concerts in Rockport, Maine. It mounts more than 40 concerts each year that feature inventive partnerships, locally focused events, and a wide stylistic range. As its website notes, “Palaver uses music to address social justice issues, promote education and dialogue, and amplify underrepresented voices.” Instruction at the Palaver Music Center extends to Portland-area residents of every age. In 2022 the group signed with the Azica label and issued its first recording, Ready or Not.