The instrumentation – vocals (Falu Shah), guitar (Clay Ross), bass (Yasushi Nakamura), drums (Clarence Penn) – may be familiar to listeners as standard for a 4-part group, but their sound is anything but ordinary. Each member brings a musical tapestry of their own to the group, allowing for cross-continental unity to blend seamlessly. What began as an exploration of their immigrant histories through music became a lasting collaboration. Listen to some of their works here .

A catalyst for creativity and learning, the Prior Performing Arts Center amplifies the arts at Holy Cross and provides the College, the greater Worcester community, and visiting creative thinkers with an inspiring environment to pursue diverse questions of the human experience. The opening of the Prior Performing Arts Center signals a new era in a longstanding tradition, grounded in our mission as a Jesuit liberal arts college, of using the arts to create dialogue, challenge perspectives, and encourage innovation and creative thinking. ( Read more. )

A southern-born roots music aficionado, Ross is also the founder of the world-renowned Gullah group Ranky Tanky. In APQ, Ross intertwines with other Grammy-winning artists: Falguni Shah, an eleventh-generation Hindustani classical vocalist, Moto Fukushima, an internationally acclaimed Issei jazz bassist, and Clarence Penn, a drumming protégée of Ellis Marsalis whose fibers were honed by African American church traditions. 

APQ resonates as a potent symbol of unity in diversity. It stands testament to the notion that, from a collage of varied backgrounds, a coherent and beautiful whole can be fashioned. Mirroring America’s cultural mosaic, APQ stitches together a story that’s both intricate and resilient. The fabric of their music is genuine—it neither feigns tolerance nor presents an overly-embellished image of unity. 

Instead, each carefully chosen piece dives deep into America’s patchwork soul and shares the joys, sorrows, and unwavering hope of a nation crafted by shared dreams and diverse histories. Far from being a haphazard collection of musical scraps, APQ is a deliberately designed homage to America’s past and a showcase of its dynamic present. It beckons listeners to meditate upon our shared identity and relish in the musical threads that bind us. Just as an intricately designed quilt becomes a cherished family heirloom, when the distinct patterns of APQ’s music align in perfect harmony, the result is both a blanket of warmth and a timeless treasure.