EVANSTON — From the first moment they snapped and jazzed onstage, Women of the World captivated the small audience that turned out to see the group that had converged from all the corners of the world. 

The ensemble performed in Evanston on Friday, May 5, to finish this year’s The Arts, Inc., Concert Series out with a bang — or, more accurately, a tribute to music’s ability to bring people of all nations and languages together. 

Ayumi Ueda, originally of Japan, began to live out her lifelong dream in 2008 when she formed the group of like-minded Berklee College of Music students from around the world. Her companions are Giorgia Renosto, of Italy; Annette Philip, of India; Débòrah Pierre, of the USA and representing Haiti; and Patrick Simard, of Canada (he is married to Pierre and explained that he is there to support the women). 

The four women, accompanied by Simard on percussion, sang a variety of songs in different languages. Among other pieces, they sang music from Japan, Bulgaria, Italy, Haiti, India, Quebec and Argentina — as well as a couple of selections in English. Altogether, they have learned music in 31 different languages and hope to eventually learn songs from all 190 countries. 

The core group of women, who performed the first half of the show in distinctive costumes from the countries they represented, brought a wide range of vocal acumen. Not only did they have high, fluting ranges for the yips, descants and melodies, but they also had low ranges that provided a strong, thrumming foundation and contrast. 

Their songs also demonstrated enormous flexibility not only in the language but in style, such as the wistful, piercing and soaring melody of the Japanese song “Tsuki,” the chattery and percussive Bulgarian song “Ergen Diado,” the militaristic song “Bread and Roses” (about women fighting for respect and dignity both in the workplace and in the home) — and even songs where Pierre could play the air guitar.

In between songs, the group shared their story, including of their time in Wyoming. Renosto commented on how the mountains they saw when visiting Yellowstone reminded her of the Alps where her home is. 

While singing the Indian song “Rhydun” (which Philip described as “like traditional beat-boxing but from India”), the group invited the audience to join in with vocal percussion, clapping and singing. People not only sang and made noise but had the chance to dance at the end of the concert. 

The French-Canadian song “Ziguezon Zinzon” also featured Simard leading the group with his skillful spoon syncopation and singing as the women answered each verse in the call-and-answer song popular in his culture. The piece was dynamic and energetic, full of dancing, yips, a variety of drum- and spoon-beats and the strong contrast between Simard’s solo baritone and the women’s fun-filled chorus. 

Other selections created whole worlds. The Japanese song “Koishiwa” created the feel of the ocean tide with seashore sound effects, the ukulele, an egg shaker and the women’s slow swaying. “Canción de Pajaro,” with its sliding, slow Argentinian melody, was accompanied by the audience’s whistled chirps and birdsong and the rhythmic hiss and spell of an egg shaker alongside an almost-tribal beat and a rumbling thunder. The song conjured the image of waterfalls amid a dense, green jungle teeming with wildlife. 

Perhaps the highlight of the concert was an unexpected moment when the women introduced “Down to the River.” When they dedicated it to everyone who needs a hug, 5-year-old Matthew Jensen ran onstage to claim his hug and ended up invited to stay for the rest of the song. 

The women delightedly hugged and held hands with Jensen during the song, while he practically quivered with excitement the whole time. Those spontaneous moments created a whole new connection between the Women of the World and the audience. 

The ensemble also had a question-and-answer session. Audience members asked about the food, environments, religion and customs of the cultures some of the performers come from, as well as how they formed the group. 

Philip, who is from South India, said the food there is rice-based and tends to be somewhat spicy and very colorful. She also said the red mark on her forehead is a bindi, which used to be a sign that the wearer is a married woman; it also decorates the “third eye.” However, she said it is now mostly a fashion statement. 

Ueda said Japanese food typically includes rice, sushi, soy, miso soup, squid and even horses (although the latter is a delicacy). In response to a question about the predominant religion in Japan, she said most people are afraid to believe something and usually don’t believe in anything — but she said that has contributed to Japan’s high suicide rate, since people do not have hope or something to hold onto. Ueda said she herself believes in a universal energy, and there are many Buddhists. She noted that the Japanese often have Christian weddings because it is trendy, and they also celebrate some Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter (Christmas is often marked by Kentucky Fried Chicken).  

Simard gave a tour of his dozens of percussion instruments, which come from all over the world and include small handheld instruments like the egg shaker as well as others such as a box he sits on (a cajón drum), a vase-shaped drum and more. 

For the whole group, Ueda said she came to the U.S. in 2007 to study at Berklee, where she met the rest of the group and formed the ensemble the following year. They also try to learn some basic conversational skills for the countries they visit in addition to the song lyrics, for which they get help from dialect coaches (often people from Berklee, as the college draws musicians from all over the world). 

Because it was the last concert, The Arts, Inc., unveiled next year’s concert series. The schedule for 2018 will feature five concerts that will be covered by a season pass and one add-on concert. The non-profit arts group is also accepting pledges to sponsor concerts. 

• Jan. 19, 2018: BYU Noteworthy

• Feb. 9, 2018: The Singing Statesmen

• Feb. 23, 2018: BYU Chamber Orchestra

• March 9, 2018: The Wardens: Music from the Mountains

• April 13, 2018: The Quebe Sisters

• May 4, 2018: Good Company (add-on concert)