Concert: The Oriental Music Ensemble
An ensemble of five professional musicians
of the National Music Conservatory will perform oriental music of the late
19th and 20th century on traditional Arabic instruments. The members of
the Ensemble are Khalid Jubran on Oud and Buzuq, Suheil Khoury on Nay and
Clarinet, Ibrahim Attari on Qanoun, Samer Totah on Oud and Yousef Hbeish
on Percussion. The ensemble has brought their spirit and virtuosity to
audiences in various Palestinian cities as well as to music festivals in
Jerusalem, Greece, and Belgium. Jerusalem, Thursday 02 December 20:30,
YMCA
Art Exhibit: Young artists
The participating artists, Mohammad Abu Sill,
Mohammad Hawajri, Raed Issa, and Rana Bishara were selected by the Khalil
Sakakini Cultural Center to participate in a workshop organized by Darat
al Funoun in Jordan and run by the Syrian artist Marwan Kassab Bashi in
September 1999. The exhibit includes the works they did in the workshop.
Opening Saturday 04 December 17:30 Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah.
Concert: The Ramallah String Quartet
The recently formed Ramallah String Quartet
draws its members from the National Conservatory of Music. The players
are Daniel Weatherly and Anita Master, violins, Peter Sulsky, viola, and
Shirly Smart, Violoncello. Members of the group are all graduates of major
London Institutions such as Guildhall School and the Royal College. Their
hope is to bring the incredibly vibrant world of string quartet and western
chamber music's most inspired combinations to Palestine. In Ramallah, their
exclusive performance venue is the Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center. Ramallah,
Tuesday 14 December 19:30, Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center.
Concert: Ahl Fass Group for Moroccan sacred chants - Morocco
This group was set up in order to revive the
tradition of Sama' and Madieh whilst retaining its original artistic features.
The aim was to preserve this Moroccan art form and to maintain its authenticity.
The Imam al - Boussayri Group for Sama' and Madieh is a complete vocal
ensemble which regularly participated in national, regional and international
festivals. It received special ranking in the National Festival for Sama'
and Madieh in Fez in 1996. The group has participated in numerous international
festivals. Jerusalem 15 & 16 December 20:00, YMCA and Souq Al Qattanine.
Hebron 20 December 19:00 Graduates Union Hall. Nablus 19 December 20:00
The Old City. El Bireh18 December 20:00 Baladna Cultural Center.
Concert: Choral Thunder - USA
Choral Thunder is a dynamic vocal ensemble
dedicated to the cultural enrichment of mankind through the preservation
and performance of various forms of choral music. The Repertoire consists
of a cappella selection. The choir continues to showcase powerful traditional
and contemporary gospel songs, soul- stirring spirituals, fervent hymns,
intricate anthems, joyful songs of praise, and refreshingly diverse international
and ethnic selections. The Choir is directed by Shelby Webb, Jr. Jerusalem
21 December 20:00 YMCA. Jericho 22 December 20:00 Jericho Cultural Center.
Ramallah 23 DEcember 20:00 Friends Boys School.
Concert: Aysha Radwan - Morocco
This year Aysha Radwan returns with a special
Sufi performance which she composed along with Habib Yamin, her long-time
partner. The majority of the songs performed are based on the poems of
Rabe'ah Al-Adawiyyeh, who was the first Arab poet to include the word "Love"
to express her love for God. Other songs are based on the poems of Ibn
Arabi and Al-Hallaj. Accompanying Aysha Radwan, the main vocalist, are
Nabil Abd Mawlah on Ney, Salah Eddin Mohammad on Qanun, and Habib Yamin
on Daf. Jerusalem 26 December 20:00 Palestinian National Theatre. Bethlehem
27 December 19:30 Jubilee Hall.
Concert: Suleyman Erguner & The Whirling Dervishes
- Turkey
Suleyman Erguner is considered the foremost
Ney player in the world. He was born to a family of musicians, thus his
early education in music. He is an assistant professor in the Woodwind
Department of the State Conservatoire. He wrote the first Reed Instrument
Method Book in Turkey. This is the second time he participates in the Jerusalem
Festival, but this year accompanied by the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey.
The 13 dancers will present dances, which according to the Whirling Dervishes,
are their way of withdrawing their minds from all contact with earthly
things and releasing their souls from their bodies so that the soul can
effect a reunion with God. Jerusalem 28 December 20:00 Palestinian National
Theatre. Bethlehem 29 December 19:30 Jubilee Hall.
Concert: Opus
The National Conservatory of Music chamber
ensemble is dedicated to performing classical music in all its various
combinations from violin- piano duo to string quartet. Teachers from the
National Music Conservatory involved in this group come from Palestine,
Jordan, Scotland, England, and the United States, and have been affiliated
with the Apple Hill Chambers Players, Royal College of Music in London
and the London Symphony Orchestra. Peter Sulski (violin) is the director
of Opus and its members are: Nadia M. Abboushi (Piano), Amer Nakhla (Guitar),
Anita Masters (Violin), Heather Macdonald (Flute), Ahmed Khatib (Cello),
Shirley Smart (Cello), Daniel Wetherley (Violin), Dominic Nunns (French
Horn), Russel Robinson (Viola), and the two guests Phil Bartai (Viola)
and Valerie Pearson (Violin.) Ramallah, Saturday 04 December 20:00, Khalil
Sakakini Cultural Center.
Concert: Lutfi Bushnaq - Tunisia
One of the Arab World's top Sufi singers,
Lutfi Bushnaq has performed widely through the Middle East. He participated
twice in the Jerusalem Festival for Arabic Music. This year Mr. Bushnaq
will be joined by a group of "Munshidine " or Sufi singing poets from Tunisia.
They will present Sufi ballads. Their musical stylewill clearly demonstrate
the different kinds of Sufi music in Tunisia. Hebron 26 December 19:00
Graduates Union Hall. Jerusalem 27 December 20:00 Souq Al Qattanine, The
Old City. Bethlehem 28 December 19:30 Jubilee Hall.
Concert: Luis Vallines
Luis Vallines was born in Madrid. After achieving
a distinction in piano studies at "Conservatorio Profesional de Musica
de Lajadahonda" in Madrid he went to London in 1996 to continue his music
studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under the supervision
of Peter Bithell as his piano professor. He also undertook compositional
studies and conducting. Since then he has continued his musical education
and obtained prizes at the IX National Piano Competition Jacinto Guerrero
1996 (1st prize), Pianists for young pianists Nestra Senora del Rosario
1994 (2nd prize), IV competition for Young pianists de Alcala de Henares
1992 (2nd prize). At present he is professor of piano at "Conservatorio
Profesional Joaquin Turina" in Madrid and at the same time he continues
his performance career within the musical circles in the city of London.
Ramallah, Thursday 02 December 20:00, Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center.