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Iraq: Over 300 Jazz and Classical Music Students Reached
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Jazz educator, Dr. Gene Aitken and American Voices' John Ferguson recently returned from a month-long program in Erbil and Suleimaniya, N. Iraq where they performed three concerts and worked with over 300 students and young professionals.
In a program funded by the U.S. Embassy, Baghdad, Jazz educator, Dr. Gene Aitken and American Voices' John Ferguson recently returned from a month-long program in Erbil and Suleimaniya, N. Iraq where they performed three concerts and worked with over 300 students and young professionals. Highlights of the program included jazz, classical and chamber music workshops with students of the Institute and College of Fine Arts in Erbil and young professionals from the City of Suleimaniya's Wind Orchestra and chamber music ensembles.
The jazz workshops were given for students and young professionals at all levels of advancement and featured performances of standards such as C Jam Blues and Canteloupe Island as well as performances of original materials by workshop participants and Jazz Bridges fusion of jazz with local traditional music and instruments.
Through the efforts of Dr. Aitken, a significant amount of music scores, jazz methods, instruments (two saxophones worth over $8000US) and equipment (reeds, mouthpieces, etc) were donated. The total donation was worth over $15,000US and was distributed directly to workshop participants and players.
In addition to the jazz program, specialized brass workshops were given by Dr. Aitken for a group of trumpet players from both the Iraqi army (Kirkuk) and the Kurdish Peshmerga forces. John Ferguson offered piano classes and chamber music coaching for ensembles ranging from clarinet and string quartets to piano four hands repertoire.
The final concert in Suleimanya featured chamber music performances of Gabriel Faure's 'Elegie' for cello and piano, Rameau by Clarinet quartet and original compositions for piano. Pianist John Ferguson presented a thirty minute concert of American composers (Eubie Black, George Gershwin and Frederic Rzewski) and the debut performance was given by the Suleimanya Wind Orchestra conducted by Nagat Ameen and Dr.Gene Aitken.
Approximately one half of the participants were alumni of our Unity Academy 2007, whereas the other half were new to our program, coming from Rania, Kirkuk, Suleimaniya and Erbil. The success of these programs enabled American Voices to garner significant new support from the Kurdish Regional Government and the Governorates of Erbil and Suleimaniya for future projects.
Unfortunately, our project week in Baghdad with the brass and woodwind sections of the Iraq National Symphony Orchestra did not take place due to the unexpected upsurge in violence in Baghdad in late March. We were however able to complete a donation of music scores and supplies and we hope to see our friends there again soon.
