Grammy Award-winning percussionist John Churchville is making a special homecoming to Marquette, Michigan, for a local performance. He takes the stage for a headlining show with the C.A.R.Ma Quartet at Kaufman Auditorium on Saturday, October 17th. Returning to Kaufman carries profound personal meaning for Churchville, who celebrates his 50th birthday this October. The historic venue was the site of his very first public performance at a sixth-grade talent show, a pivotal moment that cemented his passion and set his life's path toward a music career.
Churchville’s musical foundation began early in the Upper Peninsula, progressing from a fifth-grade drum set to an active engagement with Marquette’s local arts scene. Following a recommendation from a local music shop owner, Churchville moved to California in 1998 to attend the California Institute of the Arts alongside fellow local musicians Ryan Staples and Jared Smith. While at CalArts, he encountered the sound of the Indian tabla, initiating a decades-long dedication to studying the 4,000-year-old Hindustani classical tradition. That intensive world music training eventually merged with his upbringing playing American blues, rock, funk, and country.
Public Radio 90's Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Churchville about the C.A.R.Ma Quartet:
This blend of tradition and cross-genre experimentation defines many of Churchville's current projects. The C.A.R.Ma Quartet (an acronym representing members Churchville, Brennan Andes, Dan Ripke, and blues-harmonica veteran Peter "Madcat" Ruth) delivers an eclectic, improvisational mix of original compositions influenced by jazz, folk, and Indian classical music, relying on intuitive, uninhibited musical dialogue among seasoned performers. Churchville also performs with The Integration Ensemble, which bridges traditional Indian classical structures with Western acoustic instrumentation. For Churchville, bringing these collaborative projects back to Marquette honors a local audience whose deep listening and vibrant appreciation for live music have inspired him throughout his journey.
Madcat's C.A.R.Ma. Quartet performs Saturday, October 17th, 2026, at 7:00 PM EST at the Kaufman Auditorium in Marquette.
Find out more at the C.A.R.Ma. Quartet's website.
