Boston Arabic Music Ensemble (BAME)

Upcoming Concert-Will be Rescheduled Soon

Boston Arabic Music Ensemble In Residence at CAC

In the early 1980s, a few amateur musicians and friends from the Boston community gathered to play some popular folkloric and other classical songs from the Arabic musical heritage. The group gathered in several venues from private homes to local universities such as MIT and Harvard, and lately at the Center for Arabic Culture to celebrate that rich musical heritage. Many of the group members have participated in and learned the musical format through the Arabic Music Retreat that is held yearly at Mount Holyoke College under the direction of Simon Shaheen and AJ Racy, as well as students and faculty from the Berklee School of Music in Boston.

More recently, the group has evolved into its current members from the Boston community and performs classical and folkloric Arabic musical repertoire, most recently performing at the Harvard Arab Week opening ceremony. The Boston Arabic Music Ensemble was under the artistic direction of the late Bassam Saba (from 2010 to 2018). Since 2018, it has been led by the international award-winning violinist, composer, and educator Layth Sidiq, Bengisu Gökçe (Berklee School of Music), and more recently Akram Haddad (New England Conservatory NEC).

The Boston Arabic Music Ensemble (BAME) welcomes committed intermediate and advanced level musicians. For all queries, please contact BostonArabicMusicEnsemble@gmail.com

Layth Sidiq, Akram Haddad and Bengisu Gökçe: Musical and performance Directors

Alejandro Castellano: Guitar, Oud

Manal Baqer: Voice

Ghaleb Daouk: Nay, flute

Rania El-Fekih : Voice

Lisa Ann Esperson : Percussion

Bengisu Gökçe: violin

Lina Malshy: Violin

Samia Mora: Oud

Anne Phipps: Percussion

Jamal Sinno: Qanoun

Jamila Talhi : Voice


If you are interested in joining the ensemble, please email us at: info@cacboston.org

BAME Members

BAME Practice at CAC

May 3, 2019 Concert at Emanuel Church, Boston MA