Satellite of Qantara
The concert will include two groups: Qantara Berklee Ensemble and the Near Eastern Music Ensemble.
Qantara, which means arch, brings to life a vision for the unbridled fusion of world jazz, Middle Eastern, western classical, and Latin American music, to transcend the boundaries of genre and geography. The ensemble performs originals by the director and students, as well as traditional compositions from various styles in new arrangements. Additionally, the ensemble works on developing the art of improvisation in various styles including free form, metrical, and trading, using both harmonic and modal changes.
The Near Eastern Music Ensemble's repertoire covers Mediterranean musical cultures including Turkish, Egyptian, Greek, North African, and Andalusian. They also focus on free-style improvisation, utilizing regular and microtonal modes.