NAFSA is pleased to welcome a diverse array of talented young entertainers in step with our theme, Inspiring an Inclusive Future. We are excited to feature these performers at our plenaries, and at our opening and closing celebrations. NAFSA 2023 plenaries and the entertainment featured throughout the conference have a connection to our conference location Washington D.C. and reflect the vibrant multicultural identity of the capital city and region.

On May 30, Parijita Bastola will kickoff our Opening Plenary that will feature, Nobel Peace Prize Laurette Nadia Murad. Also on May 30, The Chuck Brown Band will be our featured entertainment at the NAFSA 75th Anniversary Opening Celebration at Nationals Ball Park. 

On June 1, The CenterStage Academy dance ensemble will open our Thursday Plenary that will feature writer, activist, and comedian Baratunde Thurston. We will close out the Thursday Plenary with a special performance by the GenOut youth chorus. 

On June 2, we will finish the week with a spotlight of our future conference location, New Orleans, a city with a rich history. The Naptown Brass Band will perform at our Closing Celebration: The Road to the Big Easy.

Look forward to celebrating the 75th anniversary in style with friends from around the world and the U.S.

Parijita Bastola

Performing at the Opening Plenary
Tuesday, May 30 at 9:30 a.m. 

Parijita Bastola is a Nepali American singer, songwriter, and actress. Parjita is the vocalist for the band Bastola. In 2022, she was a contestant on the television show "The Voice," where she was selected by all four judges. This up and coming artist has been captivating audiences throughout the country with her incredible voice. Parijita resides in Severna Park, Maryland with her family who moved to United States when political unrest began in Nepal. 

Parijita Bastola will perform at the start and conclusion of the opening plenary.

The Chuck Brown Band

Performing at the Opening Celebration
Tuesday, May 30 at 7:00 p.m. 

"The Godfather of Go Go," Chuck Brown is the undisputed sole founder and creator of Go-Go Music, a hypnotically danceable genre deeply rooted in funk and soul that he developed in the early 70's. This music genre originated in the District of Columbia. Foreshadowing many of the major popular R&B styles of the past three decades, Chuck's signature style earned him a place in American music.

Chuck Brown passed away in 2012. The Chuck Brown Band, who toured the world with The Godfather, carries the torch and keeps the beat and legacy alive.

CenterStage Academy

Performing at the Thursday Plenary
Thursday, June 1 at 4:30 p.m. 

CenterStage Academy is the home to the acclaimed youth dance ensemble who are a select group of dancers, actors, and singers from the metropolitan DC area. The company’s repertoire consists of Vocal Performance, Contemporary, Modern, Ballet, Hip Hop, Acting for TV/ Film, and Musical Theatre. CenterStage Academy for The Arts is co-founded by Shawn and Sherion Cosby as a training facility for youth and adults who desire to work professionally in the entertainment industry.

CenterStage Academy dance ensemble will perform at the start of the Thursday Plenary.

GenOUT

Performing at the Thursday Plenary
Thursday, June 1 at 4:30 p.m.

The GenOUT Youth Chorus is the Washington, DC area’s only vocal ensemble for LGBTQ+ and allied youth. Under the direction of C. Paul Heins, GenOUT is an outreach ensemble of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC. GenOUT operates under a two-fold mission: (1) to give LGBTQ+ and allied youth a voice through song, and (2) to connect that voice to community. Since its debut in spring 2015, nearly 140 singers from over 80 schools have participated in GenOUT.

GenOUT will perform at the finale of the Thursday Plenary.

Naptown Brass Band

Performing at the Closing Celebration
Friday, June 2 at 12:30 p.m.

The Naptown Brass Band is a New Orleans style street band that is taking Annapolis, Baltimore and Washington by storm with their riotous renderings of old favorites and modern hits, all with the solid beat of pure, unadulterated fun. They blast out high energy grooves for dancing in the street or wherever you are; earning them the reputation as one of the hottest and hardest hitting brass bands in Maryland. They are dedicated to exposing more of the world to the great tradition of New Orleans brass bands and second line beats.