Cultures in Harmony proposes a project that will send five young American musicians to Egypt and Tunisia from June 18 to July 4, 2010. The El Nozha chapter of Rotaract and the Egyptian Family Planning Association in Alexandria will be the primary logistical partners for the portion of the project in Egypt, while the Association des Supporters de la Creation Musicale will be the primary logistical partner for the portion of our work in Tunisia.
Sarah Wood teaches violin to Nour in Borj Cedria, Tunisia, in 2009
This project would be our second in Egypt (following "Our Voices, Our Music") and our fifth in Tunisia (following projects I, V, XI, and XVII). Our projects in both countries have helped musicians and young people discover that Americans and Arabs can work together to express their common dreams and create a voice that both may call their own. The project will send a string quartet and pianist to both countries.
Immediately after our arrival in Tunis, we will perform with the renowned Tunisian musicians Amine and Hamza M'raihi. The sight and sound of Americans and Tunisians united on the stage will send a powerful message of mutual respect.
For the fifth time, we will collaborate with the ASCM to present a week of workshops and master classes for young classical musicians in Hammamet.
We will fly from Tunis to Alexandria, where we continue our work that we started in January 2009. We will work with the Egyptian Family Planning Association to help the same group of girls create longer and more involved compositions than those they created during our last series of workshops with them. We will also work with Egyptian musicians to perform their music in a variety of concerts around Alexandria, including outlying areas. The string players will give master classes for young musicians, including at the Opera House. The musicians will stay with members of the Rotaract club, who will also serve as translators.
