Jamie Topper sitting with two girls from the youth program of Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Ministries, Summer 2007.

Jamie has been playing Middle Eastern and North African percussion since 1996. She is interested in exploring rhythm as a technology, capable of affecting change on both psychological and physical levels. Some of the groups Jamie has played and recorded with are Environmental Encroachment, Trapeze, and Btrfly Bush. She also teaches music and instrument building through organizations such as Chicago’s Gallery 37 Program and the Steckman Studio of Music and is an artist-in-residence for Snow City Arts Foundation, an organization that brings art programs to hospitalized children.