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Celebrating 10 Years of the Mediterranean Music Institute Watch a curated collection of videos chronicling music and artists from the institutes first decade.
By
Bryan Parys
November 7, 2022
Image by Mike Spencer
A decade ago, the Mediterranean Music Institute (MMI) was founded by Larry Monroe, retired vice president of academic affairs, as a way to promote collaboration across folk-based Mediterranean musical traditions. Currently under the direction of Matthew Nicholl, dean of the Professional Writing and Music Technology Division, the institute has offered a wealth of performance, composition, recording, and academic opportunities for the Berklee community, helping to launch and sustain careers for both students and recent alumni. In addition to establishing a minor in Mediterranean music, the MMI has also brought in an impressive range of legendary musicians to lead clinics, master classes, and workshops in both Boston and Valencia, Spain, including Mariza, Pepe de Luc a, Aynur, Israel Pira a Su rez, and more.
The Mediterranean area is a place where human diversity has generated great artistic wealth, said Javier Lim n, the institutes artistic director. In these past 10 years, the MMI has focused on translating this ancestral cultural wealth into tools so that our musicians can grow artistically.
To get an idea of the kinds of rich musical and cultural exchanges that have come out of the institute, watch a selection of MMI artists and songs featured over the last decade in the following video playlist, curated by MMI staff.
Historia de un Amor (2015)
Written by Carlos Eleta Almar n (Darta an). Performed by:
Tonina Saputo B.M. 17, vocals, upright bass
Heather Rivas B.M. 17, piano
Luiz Morais M.M. 15, guitar
Jaewon Lee M.M. 15, drums
Yarub Smarait M.M. 15, violin
Mei Yan Tsang M.M. 15, violin
Olivia Mok M.M. 15, 16, violin
Cliff Gordon M.M. 15, tenor saxophone
Evlerinin n Mersin (2016)
Written by Kadir Acar and Muzaffer Sar s zen. Performed and arranged by:
Elif Sanchez (n e Cakmut) B.M. 17, voice
Vasilis Kostas, laouto
Gilad Barakan B.M. '16, guitar
Longa Sirtu (Sultani Yegah Sirto) (2015)
Written by Yorgo Bacanos. Performed and arranged by:
Layth Sidiq B.M. 14, M.M. 16 (credited as Layth Al-Rubaye), violin
Naseem Alatrash B.M. '14, M.M. '17, cello
Ad Olam (2013)
Written by Yitzhak Klepter. Performed and arranged by:
Tal Even-Tzur B.M. '13, piano
Tali Rubinstein B.M. '14, recorders
See video description for the full list of performers.
Najat1958 (2012)
Written by Ali Paris. Performed by:
Ali Paris '12, qanun, vocals
Christian Li B.M. '12, piano
Spencer Stewart B.M. '13, bass
Tareq Rantisi B.M. '11, M.M. '19, percussion
Sergio Mart nez B.M. '13, M.M. '14, percussion
Zyriab (2011)
Written by Paco de Luc a. Performed by:
Ariadna Castellanos Rivas B.M. 12, piano
Ali Amr B.M. 12, qanun, voice
Kalani Trinidad B.M. 12, flute
Tamir Shmerling B.M. '11, bass
Sergio Mart nez B.M. 13, M.M. 14, percussion
Kalesma (2016)
Written by Vasilis Kostas. Performed by:
Vasilis Kostas, laouto
Elif Sanchez (n e Cakmut) B.M. 17, voice
Layth Sidiq B.M. 14, M.M. 16, violin
James Heazlewood Dale '16, bass
George Lernis B.M. '05, M.M. '21, bendir
Farzin Dehghan Manshadi B.M. '19, bendir, kemancheh, Iranian daf
Noam Israeli B.M. '15, M.M. '16, drums
Yo te Doy (2019)
Written by Tamara Jokic and arranged by Pera Krstajic. Performed by:
Tamara Jokic '19, voice
Panagiotis Aivazidis B.M. '19, qanun
Dana Roth B.M. '20, electric bass
Margaux Vranken M.M. '18, piano/keyboard
Kan Yanabe '20, percussion set
Alber Baseel B.M. 21, darbouka
Andrija Gavrilovi B.M. '19, flugelhorn
Mi Guitarra (2021)
Written and arranged by Javier Lim n. Performed by:
Nella [Rojas] B.M. '15, voice
Javier Lim n, guitar
Read more about the Latin Grammy-nominated Mi Guitarra.
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