The Middle East Music Ensemble presents our spring concert, LOUDER THAN WORDS under the direction of @wanees_zarour .
Join us on Saturday, May 23rd at 7pm at @uchicago ’s Logan Center for the Arts.
Tickets are first come first serve and donation based.
Doors open at 6:30pm with music at 7pm.
“So leave our country
Our land, our sea
Our wheat, our salt, our wounds
Everything, and leave
The memories of memory
O those who pass between fleeting words!”
—Mahmoud Darwish, excerpt featured in the central flower motif
🎨 Design courtesy of @kifmakanstudio
#chicago #chicagomusic #chicagoensemble #maqam #middleeast
🌸 Happy Nowruz! 🌸
Last weekend, the ISAC Museum came alive to welcome the Persian New Year — with crafts, festive snacks, gallery talks exploring the wonders of ancient Persia, and enchanting performances by UChicago’s Middle Eastern Music Ensemble @memechicago ). ✨
A heartfelt thank you to our cherished long-time sponsors — the Zoroastrian Association of North America and Federation (FEZANA, @thefezana ) and the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago (ZAMC, @zoroastrian_chicago ) — whose support has made this celebration possible year after year. 🙏
And as we look ahead to the new year, here’s a touch of history — swipe to see a throwback to our very first Nowruz collaboration in 2016.
Nowruz Mobarak! نوروز مبارک
Nowruz—a time to celebrate the Persian New Year and Persian culture @isac_uchicago 🌺 🔥 🎶
Drop in anytime from 1:00–3:00 pm for hands-on activities and gallery experiences, then join us at 3:00 pm for live music.
Paint and decorate spring eggs, create your own royal headband, and take a picture around the Haft Seen table. Explore the galleries with family-friendly talks from ISAC scholars and try your best to complete interactive scavenger hunts and gallery puzzles around the museum. Enjoy delicious Persian snacks and tea before gathering for a special musical performance by members of the Middle East Music Ensemble (@memechicago ), featuring such instruments as the `ud, clarinet, baglama, violin, cello, qanun, and double bass.
Registration:
Sponsored by the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (@thefezana ) and the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago (@zoroastrian_chicago )
We've got a concert on Sunday! Here's an exclusive look at what goes into making every performance so special — our community musicians.
Join us at the Reva and David Logan Center of the Arts @uchicago this Sunday, March 1st for Kindered Sounds. Doors 2:30/Music 3pm.
📸 Photos courtesy of Mark Garvoor, the unofficial documentarian of our Middle East Music Ensemble
🎨 @kifmakanstudio
Join the Middle East Music Ensemble for our winter concert KINDRED SOUNDS on March 1st at 3pm at the @loganuchicago at @uchicago !
Tickets are available for donation and for free.
Doors open at 2:30pm with the concert beginning at 3pm.
🎨 @kifmakanstudio
#Chicago #ChicagoMusic #ChicagoEnsemble
Join the Middle East Music Ensemble for our Ziad El-Rahbani tribute concert on Sunday, December 7th!
@wanees_zarour directs the 70-piece orchestra through El-Rahbani's classics.
Arrive early to guarantee a seat to this FREE concert @uchicago 's Logan Center for the Arts. Doors open at 4:30PM for the 5PM performance.
🎨: @kifmakanstudio
#Chicago #ChicagoMusic #ZiadRahbani
Wanees Zarour’s music is a journey through tradition, innovation, and storytelling. A Palestinian-American composer and educator, he is celebrated for weaving maqam-based music with jazz, contemporary, and global influences. Now based in Chicago, Wanees has led groundbreaking projects such as the Middle East Music Ensemble and the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra.
Catch the full interview with Layan, “Make Your Voice Heard”: 40 Minutes with Wanees Zarour via arabamerica.com
@wanees_zarour@layanjsrour
#ArabAmerica #40MinutesWith #Interview #WaneesZarour
With a heart filled with sadness and sorrow, we share the passing of a legend, a beloved friend, teacher, and father. Words fail to describe the void that our beloved Jim Stoynoff leaves behind.
His love of music and our love for him know no limits. He will be missed very sorely, and we will cherish every piece of himself that he left with us through his teaching, heart melting musicality, and kindness.
He has performed with MEME for decades, sharing his knowledge and musicality with thousands upon thousands of musicians and audience members. Our director Wanees Zarour has shared stages with Jim for over two decades, and learned so much not only from his musicianship but also from his kindness and relentless dedication to the craft.
Chicago will never be the same.
We love you, Jim. Rest in peace, our dear, dear friend.
Much love to his wife Kristie, son Nick and daughter Laura during this heavy time.
(Photos from a surprise celebration of Jim during our 2015 concert)
