Performing in the 2016 Green Show on Saturday, October 1
Art2Action presents a collection of artists with roots in Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and the United States offer a journey through West and Central Asian musical traditions, opera, and more.
Ensemble
Lubana Al Quntar is a world-class opera singer, deeply rooted in classical Arabic music, from Syria. Her expressive voice allows her to add luster and richness to the singing styles of traditional Arabic Maqam. Lubana became the first Syrian opera singer to attain international acclaim, in concerts throughout Europe. She returned to Syria to head the Department of Opera Singing and launched the Department of Classical Arabic Singing at the Syrian National Conservatory; she also established the Arabic Music Singing Ensemble that performed across the Middle East. Lubana came to the United States in 2012 and has performed in venues such as the Kennedy Center, Shakespeare Theatre Company, and more.
A Turkish-born violinist, Eylem Basaldi was on the classical track at the New England Conservatory when she rediscovered her passion for Turkish folk music, and a wide array of musical traditions. She is now a member of several ensembles, including Dolunay, which plays the songs of the people of Turkish descent who lived across Rumeli, the southern region of the Balkans; and Sandaraa, a band that explores a vast repertoire of South & Central Asian material (from Balochistan, Afghanistan and beyond) while blending it with the sounds of Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and more. She has performed in venues such as Symphony Hall in Boston, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in NY, and has appeared on the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Show with the Indie Rock band Afghan Whigs. Eylem is also a composer, a violin instructor, and tours widely in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East.
April Centrone is a performer of the riqq (tambourine), as well as the darbekkeh (goblet drum) and frame drum, student of master Lebanese/Palestinian percussionist, Michel Baklouk Merhej. Originally from New York City, she is an accomplished and versatile performer of drumset in hard rock, jazz, funk, world, progressive and avant-garde styles. She also plays a variety of other percussion and string instruments, including the oud (Arabic lute). She has performed in venues from Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and NYC Opera House, to the Beirut Jazz Festival in Lebanon, FMM Sines in Portugal, and more. April is the executive director and co-founder of the New York Arabic Orchestra, directed by Bassam Saba. An acclaimed educator, she continually holds workshops and classes for both adults and children of all ages.
Art2Action on Community
Art2Action creates, develops, produces and presents original theatre, interdisciplinary performances, performative acts and progressive cultural organizing. We support women artists, artists of color, queer or trans artists, and creative allies. We are dedicated to Cultural Equity & Aesthetic Innovation, Artistic Quality & Community Value, Performativity & Impact. Whether creating, producing, presenting or touring, community building is central to all our work. As a mission-driven, artist-led organization, we are intentionally designed to extend our reach and increase our impact through multi-year partnerships with local partners, national networks, organizers and activists.