Copper Country students joined Grammy Award winner Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience for a special Creole performance of bayou blues and jazz at the Rozsa Center on Thursday and Friday. In the morning students from the Copper Country Intermediate School District heard a couple familiar tunes they heard in the Disney film The Princess and the Frog. Simien’s engaging showmanship even taught the students about his community in southern Louisana, outside of New Orleans.
Simien is eighth generation Creole, and has been playing music on big stages since the 1980’s. In 2009 he was asked to add authenticity to the music heard in Princess and the Frog. He said it was a wonderful experience, especially seeing more people across America experiencing the songs, food, and stories of Lousiana.
Birondo described students’ reactions after the Thursday show. “One of the kids, when I was talking to them afterwards, was just like, oh my gosh, was like jazz music, but it so cool,” she said. Birondo added other students had never heard this kind of music before, and watching them fully engage with the performance excited her about Friday’s show.
Simien previewed the performance on Friday. “A little taste of something that everybody know because we’ll throw a few songs in there that you know people will know,” he said. He described the band’s style: “We’ve played this style of music, Zydeco which is Creole music from South Louisiana and we kind of like fuse it with a lot of different things,” he said. “So be ready for it.”
On Friday, Simien and his band will perform for Copper Country audiences. The show is one of the final Presenting Series performances of 2026. In December the Rozsa Center will host Filosophy for the Holly Jolly Harmonies performance. In the spring semester, the series will bring comedian Ashley Gavin to Winter Carnival. Visitors can still attend shows before winter settles in.
Next week, the Visual and Performing Arts Program takes center stage. Learn more about Rozsa Center events online.
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