Are you a musician looking to connect with other talented artists from around the globe? Are you excited by the idea of learning new musical styles and collaborating across genres? Well Silkroad has not one, but TWO upcoming Global Musician Workshops — week-long programs that bring together musicians from all over the world for a series of workshops, performances, and so. much. fun.
Applications are open now for both GMW Hangzhou and GMW Boston! Apply for Boston by April 13 and Hangzhou by May 31; link in bio!
What is Silkroad's Global Musician Workshop?
It's a week of connection, collaboration, learning, and creativity, bringing together musicians from all across the globe. The program began over a decade ago, and we've since seen hundreds of artists come together to create never-before-seen combinations of musical styles and instruments.
It's not a program focused on auditions or competition - it's about the magic that emerges when we connect across cultures and take the opportunity to learn from each other.
This year, GMW is returning to New England Conservatory in Boston, MA from August 17-22, 2026. Applications are open now through April 13!
Wishing a magnificent birthday to Kojiro Umezaki (@kojiroumezaki )! 🎂 A virtuosic shakuhachi player and composer, Ko has been a core member of the Silkroad Ensemble since 2001. Combining rigorous academic work as a Professor of Music at UC Irvine with major industry acclaim, including his role as a performer, co-composer, and Associate Producer on our Grammy-winning album Sing Me Home, his deep insight pushes the boundaries of global music. Happy Birthday, Ko!
This summer, experience a unique program with globally-minded musicians from around the world. Spend a week in the beautiful city of Hangzhou, China, where you'll stay on the state-of-the-art campus of the Zhejiang Conservatory (@zjcm2016 ). You'll join daily rehearsals and workshops exploring diverse musical genres while spending your downtime jamming with fellow participants and enjoying local cuisine.
Applications close for GMW Hangzhou on May 31. Apply now at the link in bio!
Since Silkroad's inception, we've always sought out opportunities to bring new musical works into the world through commissions and collaborative arrangements. Over our 25 year history, Silkroad has commissioned over 150 new works and compositions, with plenty more on the horizon. Do you have a favorite from our past albums or tours? Let us know in the comments!
Seen here is a snippet of "Songs of the Sap" by @karenouzounian !
"A lot of people have trouble feeling like they belong. Musicians sometimes have trouble feeling like they belong in the same room with other musicians. But this camp solves that problem by allowing for a safe space and culture to be uncomfortable, to open your heart, to ask questions, to pull aside someone and teach each other tunes, to seek help, to be inspired, to feel encouraged, to be vulnerable, to collaborate, to improvise, to grow and to reflect on what it means to be musical in this world together.
I will come back to this workshop and do everything within my power to support its continuation. This type of respectful, curious and supportive person to person dialog is what our world needs now. This workshop shows us that we do belong."
— GMW Hangzhou 2024 Participant
Each year we are transformed by the participants who come through the Global Musician Workshop. The openness, thoughtfulness, and care they each put into their craft and into learning from each other is a endless fount of inspiration.
Come be a part of this year's GMW Hangzhou cohort; applications close on May 31.
We're in the final month of applications for Silkroad's Global Musician Workshop Hangzhou held at the Zhejiang Conservatory in China! Experience multicultural music from across the globe in a beautiful, inclusive setting led by all-star faculty. This year, we'll be joined by:
Wu Man — GMW Hangzhou Director, pipa (@wu_man2019 )
Ekram — guitar, voice
Huug Jiletu — Mongolian morin-khuur, throat singing, multi-instrumentalist
Andrea Piccioni — tamburello, frame drums (@andreapiccionipercussion )
Francesco Turrisi — piano, accordion, frame drums, multi-instrumentalist (@francescoturrisimusic )
Participants will perform in bands led by faculty, while also exploring workshops and classes that teach about musical traditions from around the world. Learn more and apply by May 31 at the link in bio!
Wishing a very happy birthday to the incredible Niwel Tsumbu (@niweltsumbuguitar )! 🎸 A Congolese-born, Ireland-based guitarist, Niwel brings a sophisticated sense of rhythm and a thrilling, virtuosic style to the Silkroad Ensemble. We are so grateful for the joy and deep emotion he pours into every performance. Have a fantastic day, Niwel!
How does the music of Silkroad get created? Well there is no one answer -- sometimes we use sheet music with full detailed arrangements, sometimes we collaboratively build an arrangement off of a simplified melody or lead sheet, and sometimes we toss the sheet music aside entirely and learn a piece aurally. This blend of approaches allows us to navigate across musical genres, each with their own traditions, notations, and cultural contexts.
Can't join us for the Global Musician Workshop in Boston? Well have no fear - you don't have to miss out! We're still accepting applications for Silkroad's Global Musician Workshop in Hangzhou, China through May 31!
You'll stay on-campus at the beautiful and lush Zhejiang Conservatory, where you'll experience daily multicultural music workshops, diverse band rehearsals, and group meals where you'll enjoy delicious cuisine from the region.
There's no fee to apply, so don't miss your chance. Learn more at the link in bio.
We've got more shows! If you missed out on our recent tour of Sanctuary: The Power of Resonance and Ritual, then have no fear: we'll be back on stage soon! Check out the link in bio to see where we'll be next and subscribe to our newsletter to get updated when new show dates are added.
📸: Kristen Loken
