International Folk Fest, March 25

The 24th International Folk Music Festival takes place on Thursday, March 25, at 8:15 p.m., at the Berklee Performance Center. This annual performance celebrates Berklee's abundant international student population—24 percent—proving that music is truly a cultural bridge. Tickets are $15, $10 for seniors, and on sale now at the Performance Center box office, 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, or through Ticketmaster. For more information, call 617 747-2261, or visit berklee.edu/events. The Berklee Performance Center is wheelchair accessible.

Students and faculty from Bahamas, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, India, Italy, Mexico, Russia, and the United States will perform, some wearing vibrant clothing and playing rarely seen instruments from their homelands. They will showcase a vast range of musical styles. Berklee professor and music director Ken Zambello is planning an enchanting program with songs that will arouse emotional and physical responses. Faculty members Christiane Karam and Tom Stein are assisting Zambello with the program. 

As part of the annual celebration of Berklee's international culture and music, community leaders are honored for supporting international understanding, goodwill, and education, and for helping Berklee's international students. This year Berklee will recognize violin virtuoso Simon Shaheen and Jooseok Kim, Consul General of the republic of South Korea.

"Palestinian-American Simon Shaheen is such an amazing musician and composer and a hero to many of our students. He has worked with several faculty at Berklee and encourages so many students to come to here. Simon is most deserving of this award," says award presenter Larry Bethune, vice president for student affairs/dean of students.

Bethune adds, "Berklee has over 200 students from Korea. Jooseok Kim and his consulate have been extremely helpful to many of our Korean students, and we appreciate the assistance they have given so generously. Their service exemplifies the values behind this award, especially their advancement of international goodwill and understanding."