Mark Tonelli & Afolia
DOORS: 7:30PM
SHOW: 8PM

Discover the soulful sounds of Brazil with Mark Tonelli & Afolia! This unique group made up of top St. Louis musicians shines a spotlight on lesser known Brazilian gems, moving beyond the classic bossa novas to unearth hidden treasures. Join Afolia as they take you on a journey through the vibrant rhythms and poignant melodies of 1970’s and 80’s Brazil, celebrating the richness of Brazilian music. Afolia means “revelry” in Portuguese and is a commonly-heard term during Brazil’s famed Carnaval.

Mark Tonelli is an internationally-renowned musician and educator based in Decatur, Illinois. He is associate professor of music and coordinator of guitar studies at Millikin University, an Illinois Humanities Road Scholar, and a Fulbright Scholar to Brazil. Mark enjoys an active performing career, working with a wide variety of artists: American Idol Clay Aiken, Broadway legend Rita Moreno, rock icons The Platters; crooner Bobby Rydell; and jazz musician Peter Erskine. He has been seen on Fox News and in the Emmy nominated PBS special Marina At West Point. Mark has had residencies in the major music hubs of New York City, Dallas, and Kansas City. His group has released three critically-acclaimed recordings on theMTonal Music label and performs Mark’s award-winning original compositions, rock pieces reimagined for jazz, and Brazilian gems.