Celebrating 10 Years of the Mediterranean Music Institute

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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