Jordan's Leading Cultural Ambassador Zade Uses Music to Fight Ignorance, Intolerance; to Lead International Orchestra – Including Musicians From Iran, Israel, U.S., Korea – On Peace Tour
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Zade Dirani |
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BOSTON, MA, December 19, 2005 — Recording artist and Berklee alumnus Zade Dirani knows ignorance can be lethal. A Jordanian Muslim, he's been called a terrorist just for reading an Arabic newspaper. And in the bombing of a Jordan hotel last November, he lost several friends to a deadly terrorist attack. But instead of fighting, he's playing. Armed with a piano and an international orchestra representing 18 countries – including musicians from Iran, Israel, Korea, the U.S. – Zade is using music to combat cultural ignorance and intolerance. Many of the musicians in Zade's orchestra are Berklee alumni or students. Dubbed "Jordan's leading cultural ambassador" by the Washington Times, Zade will present The Roads to You: Celebration of One World, a national tour that will take his message of peace and cultural understanding to four major U.S. cities in May, 2006. Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan is the tour Patron.
Zade will be rehearsing the orchestra Thursday, January 5, in Berklee's David Friend Recital Hall, 921 Boylston St., Boston. The media is invited to attend rehearsals from 11:30 am – 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm; interviews may be scheduled during lunch from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm. The rehearsals are not open to the public.
Zade Dirani spends more than 200 days a year performing in homes, churches, synagogues, colleges, and schools around the world. He has played before thousands in the Middle East, Europe, and the U.S. as well as in front of Queen Elizabeth, Queen Rania, Nelson Mandela, and Jordan's King Abdullah. His music blends Eastern Arabic scales with Western contemporary influences. Two of his albums have placed on the Billboard New Age Top 10 Chart.
The Roads to You: Celebration of One World – sponsored by Berklee College of Music and Seeds of Peace ?– will include concerts, presentations, and workshops in major venues in Washington DC, Houston, Orlando, and Los Angeles starting in early May, 2006. All proceeds from The Roads to You: Celebration of One World will support charities and causes as advised by community partners. For more info, visit: www.roadstoyou.com and www.zade.com.
Other organizations lending a hand locally are the World Affairs Council, The Daniel Pearl Foundation, Arab American Anti Discrimination Committee, The Mosaic Foundation, Boniak Center at Rice University, and Walt Disney World, Epcot Center.
For editorial information or digital photos, the media may contact:
Nick Balkin
Office of Public Information
(617) 747-2247
nbalkin@berklee.edu
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