New York Arabic Orchestra 

Overview

The New York Arabic Orchestra performs a special concert at Washington, D.C.’s premier venue. Led by world-class musicians, the orchestra showcases the rich traditions and vibrant sounds of Arabic music. The performance includes an educational component, offering the audience an engaging experience exploring the origins, evolution and cultural might of Arabic music. This concert celebrates Arab-American heritage while introducing broader audiences to a captivating musical tradition, fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation. This concert tour builds upon MEI’s past success with the New York Arabic Orchestra in October 2023, co-produced with Abu Dhabi Festival.

Programme

Stay tuned for the details...

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Artists

New York Arabic Orchestra

Founded in 2007, the New York Arabic Orchestra (NYAO) has transformed Arabic music performance and education in New York, impacting thousands of students and concert-goers around the world. Over its 16-year history, NYAO has swept the world with powerful performances and workshops, from the Lincoln Center, United Nations and Detroit Symphony Hall to Festival Músicas do Mundo in Portugal and Taipei Silk Road Music Conference in Taiwan.  

Through concerts and classes, the NYAO has inspired countless Americans and non-natives to explore Arabic music, encouraged thousands of Arab-American adults to reconnect with the music of their upbringing, and engaged youth with immersive musical experiences that leave a lasting impact.  

The orchestra continues to forge new frontiers, from recording Ubisoft's soundtrack for Assassin's Creed: Mirage to exciting new performances and collaborations on the horizon.

Layth Sidiq

A Grammy-nominated Iraqi-Jordanian violinist, composer and educator renowned for his fusion of Arabic maqam and Western jazz. Born in Iraq and raised in Jordan, he studied at the National Music Conservatory in Amman before earning a full scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he completed his Master’s degree at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. Sidiq has performed with prominent artists such as Simon Shaheen, Danilo Pérez, Jack DeJohnette and Tigran Hamasyan, and has graced stages at the London Jazz Festival, Boston Symphony Hall, WOMEX Expo and Carnegie Hall. His debut album, Son of Tigris, premiered at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2016. In 2023, he contributed as lead vocalist and violinist for the video game Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Currently, Sidiq serves as Artistic Director of the New York Arabic Orchestra and directs the Center for Arabic Culture’s Youth Orchestra Program. He was also the first Arab to compete in the Zbigniew Seifert International Jazz Violin Competition, where he secured second place.