Special Appearance by Alma Richeh, Ghassan Sawalhi, Bengisu Gökçe
Fadi Saba, CAC Children Choir & Youth Orchestra
Ruth Cameron Auditorium, Eastern Nazarene College, 23 East Elm Avenue, Quincy, MA 02170
About the Musicians
Layth Sidiq – Layth Sidiq is an award-winning violinist, composer and educator. His first record Son of Tigris was premiered at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2016. Layth won 2nd place at the 2018 Seifert International Jazz Violin Competition. He recently was awarded ‘Best International Artist’ at the 2020 Boston Music Awards. He is the current artistic director of the New York Arabic Orchestra, the director of CAC Youth Orchestra Program in Boston and was a faculty member at Carnegie Hallʼs ʻMusic Educators Workshopʼ.
Alma Richeh – Choir Director & CAC Executive Director, is a Syrian-American artist who studied singing at the Syrian Higher Institute For Music. Alma also pursued law degrees in Damscan and D.C. and did research work on the rights of women in Arab and Middle countries from legal, historic, cultural, religious and humanitarian perspectives.
Fadi Saba – Fadi is a Syrian-American pianist who has written and produced music that blends middle eastern and western styles. Fadi pursued his studies in piano with Timothy McFarland. He has won first jury prize for his performance of Edward Griegʼs compositions.
Bengisu Gökçe – Orchestra Administrative Director & Violinist, is a multi- award winning, multi-genre Violinist and Singer. Cassically trained at Mersin University State Conservatory , she’s known for combining in her music her Turkish roots with Eastern-European and Middle-Eastern traditions.
Ghassan Sawalhi – Orchestra Senior Conductor is a music producer, audio engineer, hip hop artist and Oud player; he graduated from Berklee College of Music and currently works from his Mixing/Mastering studio in Boston, and provides Oud instruction in multiple places in the greater Boston area.
CAC Children Choir, under the direction of Alma Richeh. First Arabic children choir in MA, introducing children 6-14 years old to Arabic Middle Eastern music, language and culture through Arabic songs. The choir welcomes children from all backgrounds and speaking Arabic is not required to join.
CAC Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Layth Sidiq, welcomes youth and children to learn about the traditions of Arab music in an ensemble format. An orchestra is a community, a gathering of like-minded individuals with the aim of making music together as well as reinforcing the shared human values that make us a better society.
CAC Youth Orchestra
– Music Director –
Layth Sidiq
– Cello –
Ilias Sassi
– Qanun –
Salman Alqahtani
– Oud –
Ranya Almedhychy
Yara Alqahtani
Adan Azkul
Ziad Kaafarani
– Violin –
Manar Karkour
Noor Haddouche
Nawaf Alqahtani
CAC Children's Choir
– Director –
Alma Richeh
– Choir –
Yara Alqahtani
Salman Alqahtani
Nawaf Alqahtani
Ian Ballout
Mateo Ballout
Talia Daak
Noor Haddouche
Hanna Haddouche
Taj Karkour
Manar Karkour
Mira Moukaddem
Naya Reda
Adam Salahi DiCrescenzo
Dalia Salahi DiCrescenzo
Sofia Siyam
Syrene Siam
Layla Siam
This event is hosted by Rise Up Lebanon Action which is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in collaboration with the Center for Arabic Culture.
All proceeds will go to charity to support RULA affiliated organizations helping raise funds for people in need of food assistance, heating oil, medical support, kids education, and sustainable programs in Lebanon.
To learn more about RULA and upcoming events or if you would like to donate, please visit our website riseuplebanon.org.
Center for Arabic Culture of Boston is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote the Arabic culture and the Arab-American experience in a secular, democratic, inclusive, and humanistic way. CAC celebrates the Arabic culture through arts, literary events, concerts, film screenings, and music and language instruction. Please visit them at cacboston.org.
Thank you
The RULA team would like to thank everyone who attended the concert on-line or in-person and who donated to the projects. We appreciate you!
We also want to extend a special thank you to the Artists who made this happen. Thank you Layth Sidiq, Alma Richeh. Fadi Saba, Ghassan Sawalhi, Bengisu Gökçe, CAC Children Choir & Youth Orchestra.
Wishing everyone a safe and wonderful Spring.