Nomsa Burkhardt
Performing Artist | Educator | Film&Music
Cultural Exchange and Community
Cultural exchange has always been at the heart of Nomsa Burkhardt's work as a teaching artist and performer. Through music, storytelling, and movement, she creates meaningful opportunities for young people and communities to connect across cultures and traditions.
Across schools, museums, and community-based programs, Nomsa's work invites participation rather than passive observation. Her programs create space for rhythm, story, dialogue, and reflection—helping students and audiences discover both shared human values and the distinct beauty of their own cultural identities.
The entries below highlight a selection of schools and community programs where she has led residencies, assemblies, workshops, and special cultural exchange events. Some were long-term school partnerships; others were invitation-based programs shaped by a particular community and moment.
Each program is adapted to the students, the setting, and the goals of the host community. Students participate through rhythm, singing, storytelling, movement, and hands-on work with instruments, building confidence, curiosity, listening skills, and a stronger sense of connection with one another.
Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians Cultural Exchange
A July 2018 cultural exchange in Pauma Valley, where Nomsa shared South African music, movement, and storytelling with students in a K-8 summer camp program.
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Quick facts
- District: Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians
- Location: Pauma Valley, CA
- Grades served: K-8 summer program
- Total students: Add/verify (public sources vary)
Nomsa's residency
In July 2018, Nomsa was invited to Pauma Valley to participate in a cultural exchange with the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians as part of a summer camp program for students in grades K-8.
The organizers described the students as energetic, athletic, and strongly connected to storytelling as an important part of community tradition. The event was designed to give young people an opportunity to experience cultures beyond the reservation while reflecting on the strength of their own cultural identity.
Through South African songs, rhythm, movement, and storytelling, Nomsa created an interactive program that invited students to participate rather than simply observe. The exchange opened space for curiosity, dialogue, and recognition of shared values across cultures—especially the role of story, community, and artistic expression.
For Nomsa, the invitation remains a memorable example of how the arts can build bridges between communities while honoring the identities already present in the room.
Loma Portal Elementary School
A vibrant, family-oriented school focused on helping all students reach their optimal potential; the school community has fostered excellence since 1914.
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Quick facts
- District: San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD)
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Grades served: K-4
- Total students: 392 students
Nomsa's residency
Nomsa's residency at Loma Portal was a dynamic and engaging program ...
San Diego French-American School (SDFAS)
A bilingual French-American independent school serving early childhood through middle school in San Diego.
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Quick facts
- District: Independent (Private)
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Grades served: PK-8
- Total students: approx 350 students
Nomsa's residency
The Language Academy (French & Spanish Immersion)
A magnet school offering French or Spanish immersion with the goal of biliteracy and an enriching world curriculum for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade.
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Quick facts
- District: San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD)
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Grades served: K-8
- Total students: 1,015 students
Nomsa's residency
Kate Sessions Elementary School
A San Diego Unified elementary school community serving grades TK-5 in the Pacific Beach area.
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Quick facts
- District: San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD)
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Grades served: K-5
- Total students: 424 students
Nomsa's residency
Hearst Elementary School
Located in Del Cerro; a diverse neighborhood school community that emphasizes respect, connection, and a sense of belonging.
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Quick facts
- District: San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD)
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Grades served: PK-5
- Total students: 541 students
Nomsa's residency
Flying Hills School of the Arts
A Cajon Valley school with an arts focus serving grades K-8 in El Cajon.
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Quick facts
- District: Cajon Valley Union School District
- Location: El Cajon, CA
- Grades served: K-8
- Total students: approx 742 students
Nomsa's residency
The Museum School
A tuition-free public charter school in San Diego serving grades K-8 with a hands-on, arts-integrated learning approach.
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Quick facts
- District: Public Charter (Tuition-free)
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Grades served: K-8
- Total students: approx 214 students
Nomsa's residency
Monarch School
A school and community program supporting students impacted by homelessness, serving grades K-12 in San Diego.
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Quick facts
- District: Public (Alternative)
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Grades served: K-12
- Total students: approx 225 students
Nomsa's residency
Bird Rock Elementary School
A La Jolla community school with strong neighborhood connection; described as having an enrollment of approximately 445 students.
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Quick facts
- District: San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD)
- Location: La Jolla, CA
- Grades served: TK-5
- Total students: approx 445 students
Nomsa's residency
Euclid Elementary School
A San Diego Unified elementary school serving grades TK-5; enrich with programs and community context on the next pass.
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Quick facts
- District: San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD)
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Grades served: K-5
- Total students: 509 students
Nomsa's residency
Highland Ranch Elementary School
A Poway Unified neighborhood elementary school serving grades K-5; expand with programs and arts enrichment details next.
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Quick facts
- District: Poway Unified School District (PUSD)
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Grades served: K-5
- Total students: approx 661 students
Nomsa's residency
Correia Middle School
A San Diego Unified middle school serving grades 6-8; expand with arts offerings and programs on the next pass.
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Quick facts
- District: San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD)
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Grades served: 6-8
- Total students: 658 students
Nomsa's residency
Francis Parker School
A long-standing independent JK-12 day school in San Diego known for strong academics and arts; expand with program context next.
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Quick facts
- District: Independent (Private)
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Grades served: JK-12
- Total students: approx 1,315 students
Nomsa's residency
Glenn E. Murdock Elementary
An elementary school in the La Mesa-Spring Valley district; the website provides family resources, schedules, and school contacts.
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Quick facts
- District: La Mesa-Spring Valley Schools (LMSV)
- Location: La Mesa, CA
- Grades served: PreK-6
- Total students: approx 617 students
Nomsa's residency
Del Mar Heights School
A Del Mar Union elementary school serving grades K-6; expand with programs, arts, and community highlights next.
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Quick facts
- District: Del Mar Union School District
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Grades served: K-6
- Total students: Add/verify (public sources vary)
Nomsa's residency
Bay Park Elementary School
A TK-5 neighborhood elementary school in Bay Park; the site highlights community onboarding information and family resources.
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Quick facts
- District: San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD)
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Grades served: K-4
- Total students: 468 students
Nomsa's residency
A selection of film and music collaborations, ranging from hybrid projects and immersive performance to commissioned work for cultural institutions.
Each project has its own sound palette and story. Select an entry to explore details and related pages.
Project overview
This film tells the story of a young woman from South Africa studying in the United States, navigating cultural identity and belonging. She builds connections to her peers while getting support from her mother and father back home through video calls. Nomsa plays the role of Mama, a Zulu mother who provides emotional support and cultural grounding.
Expressive profile
- Sound palette: Layered percussion, vocal textures, ambient cinematic beds.
- Visual language: Documentary-inspired imagery blended with poetic movement.
- Audience experience: Reflective, intimate, and emotionally immersive.
Themes
- Migration
- Belonging
- Identity
- Memory
Highlights
- Strong bonds between children from South Africa and their parents.
- Modern communication methods bridging distances.
- Designed for both stage and screening formats.
Postcard from Earth
Immersive film project of a new dimension, provided by the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Project overview
An immersive multimedia film that easily tops other cinematic 3D experiences.
Expressive profile
- Sound palette: Polyrhythms, pulse-led percussion, choral motifs.
- Visual language: Large-format projected environments with kinetic choreography.
- Audience experience: Expansive, rhythmic, and participatory in feel.
Themes
- Earth
- Nature
- Life
- Societies
- Beauty
Highlights
- Many breathtaking moments show the beauty and the diversity of nature and life on earth.
- Visual storytelling at a cinematic scale - it feels like flying at times.
- Amazing scenes from densely populated neighborhoods in Johannesburg show the cultural richness. Zulu and Xhosa language conversations and chanting are artistically embedded, Nomsa is featured as voice actor.
Project overview
Filmed in South Africa, this project blends score, movement, and spoken elements to explore memory, loss, and resilience. Sequel to the famous Schwarzenegger film.
Expressive profile
- Sound palette: Sparse melodic lines, breath-based vocals, low-end resonance.
- Visual language: Close framing, shadow-forward staging, tactile detail.
- Audience experience: Quiet intensity with emotional release.
Themes
- Memory
- Loss
- Resilience
- Reconstruction
Highlights
- Original score with layered vocal textures.
- Movement-based storytelling.
- Music by award-winning composer Mark Kilian, with Nomsa's cooperation in several key scores.
Project overview
Expressive profile
- Sound palette: Vocal textures, ensemble energy, cinematic depth.
- Visual language: Epic scale, Afrofuturist design, ceremonial imagery.
- Audience experience: Powerful, emotional, and immersive.
Themes
- Heritage
- Community
- Courage
- Legacy
Highlights
- Voice acting for a global theatrical release.
- Contributes to the film's vocal and cultural soundscape.
- Part of the celebrated <em>Black Panther</em> franchise.
Deep Blue Sea 3
Climate-change inspired composition and choreography with visual storytelling.
Project overview
Set at an archipel off the South African coast, this thriller sequel of the famous Shark film series keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last souls finally get away in harmony, to songs of Nomsa and Mark Kilian.
Expressive profile
- Sound palette: Wave-like rhythmic cycles, airy harmonics, submerged textures.
- Visual language: Blue-spectrum visuals, fluid camera movement, marine motifs.
- Audience experience: Meditative, atmospheric, and cinematic.
Themes
- Ocean ecology
- Fluidity
- Migration
- Wildlife
Highlights
- Breathtaking action and film music throughout.
- Rhythmic and melodic songs texted and sung by Nomsa and composed by Mark Kilian and Nomsa.
- The songs are adaptable for film or live performance.
San Diego Zoo
Co-composer and singer for the biggest San Diego Zoo productions and visitor experiences.
Project overview
Nomsa composed and performed original music for San Diego Zoo experiences, creating soundscapes that supported conservation storytelling and visitor engagement--from the entertainment in the African Village to the day's finale, a bombastic Front Street performance and show. For many summers, her voice became part of the Zoo's daily rhythm--heard each day and accompanying hundreds of thousands of guests in their final moments before heading home.
Expressive profile
- Sound palette: Accessible melodic hooks, percussive vitality, world influences.
- Visual language: Vibrant interactive shows, colorful costumes, catchy choreography and music with the authentic African voice of Nomsa.
- Audience experience: Warm, educational, and uplifting.
Themes
- Conservation
- Education
- Community
- Wildlife
Highlights
- Nomsa was a key creative force in Zoo programming - dancer, singer, composer, and choreographer.
- Her work reinforced conservation and education storytelling in the African Village and Front Street shows.
- Family- and school-group-friendly performances that kept audiences engaged.
Dear ... (Stevie Wonder)
Tribute performance and musical letter with cinematic tone and storytelling.
Project overview
A tribute-centered project blending performance, spoken narrative, and musical homage.
Expressive profile
- Sound palette: Soulful vocals, groove-led percussion, lyrical tribute motifs.
- Visual language: Vintage-inspired palette with intimate stage framing.
- Audience experience: Nostalgic, heartfelt, and celebratory.
Themes
- Tribute
- Legacy
- Voice
- Storytelling
Highlights
- Nomsa is the main actor and tells her story to Stevie Wonder.
- Her family's hardships during the apartheid era, the Soweto uprising, and her affiliation to Stevie through his music.
- The story ends with her becoming a U.S. citizen and her gratitude for the inspirational leadership of Stevie Wonder through his music and life.
Nomsa's museum-based programs are designed around exhibit themes and community goals. She blends music, movement, and storytelling to create welcoming, participatory learning spaces for visitors of all ages.
Each residency or workshop is customized for the host museum and its audience. Formats can be adapted for school visits, family days, gallery talks, or community celebrations.
Museum of Us
An anthropology museum in Balboa Park focused on the diverse stories that define us.
Official site Wikipedia
Program overview
Nomsa enjoyed working at the Museum of Us as an affiliated museum educator for many years. She led tours of the California Tower and guided visitors through a wide range of exhibitions, from ancient Egypt and archaeology to contemporary themes such as race, community, and belonging, including the Kumeyaay history of San Diego. Her tours blended storytelling, music, and movement to create memorable, welcoming museum experiences.
Highlights
- Located in Balboa Park's historic California Quadrangle and California Tower.
- Anthropology collections and exhibits exploring human stories across time and cultures.
- Education resources and group visit programs for schools and communities.
- Commitment to inclusive storytelling and community voice.
African American Museum in Philadelphia
The first museum built and funded by a municipality to preserve African American heritage.
Official site Wikipedia
Program overview
In Philadelphia, Nomsa held poster sessions and worked within exhibitions that included performances and tours at one of the city's most important African American cultural institutions. Her work emphasized community dialogue and made history feel present, personal, and alive for visitors.
Highlights
- Four galleries and an auditorium with exhibitions anchored in the African Diaspora, the Philadelphia story, and contemporary narratives.
- Collections and programs that preserve, interpret, and celebrate African American history and culture.
- Docent-led tours, workshops, and education programs for groups and schools.
- Located in Philadelphia's historic district near Independence National Historical Park.
National Liberty Museum
A museum and learning center that connects, educates, and inspires people around liberty.
Official site Wikipedia
Program overview
As a South African educator, Nomsa connected visitors with stories of Nelson Mandela's prison cell while guiding school classes and adults through exhibitions on freedom and civic courage. She translated complex history into human stories and highlighted the museum's signature glass art centerpiece, the Flame of Liberty, creating experiences that felt authentic, personal, and lively.
Highlights
- Mission-centered exhibits that explore the practice of liberty in civic life.
- Flagship civic education programs and field trips for students and educators.
- Home to the Flame of Liberty glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly.
- Located in Old City Philadelphia near historic sites.