Celebrating Mediterranean Day 2024

The Union for the Mediterranean has declared November 28th as Mediterranean Day. The purpose of the celebration is to promote intercultural dialogue and raise awareness of the shared history and identity of the Mediterranean region.

On this day, concerts will take place simultaneously in 24 countries around the Mediterranean, showcasing the diversity of the region through music. Zavod APIS joined this collective initiative in 2022 and 2023, and will once again organise a concert with an accompanying program in 2024. The event organised by APIS Institute is co-organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. We are pleased to have the partnership support of ZRC SAZU and the collaboration with the Radio Prvi / first program of Radio Slovenia, which will feature the concert and accompanying content in its program, as well as the support of other partners and supporters who make the event possible.

The concert and discussion will take 28.11. 2024 at 6pm in ZRC Atrium, Novi trg 2 in Ljubljana. The event will be livestreamed

 

On the celebration of Mediterranean Day, entry is free for all attendees of the musical events. Reservations are required for the event in the Atrium of ZRC, however live streaming will be available to all.

 

 

 

Rami Basisah for the First Time in Slovenia

In celebration of Mediterranean Day, we have invited Rami Basisah, who will be coming to Slovenia with his quartet.

Rami is no stranger to Slovenian audiences. In 2015, Boštjan Videmšek wrote an impactful article for Delo about the European anthem composed by Rami, “Ode to Joy,” which was later nominated for the European Journalism Award.

When Rami fled from the devastated city of Homs in Syria in 2015, Boštjan Videmšek noticed him at the border between Greece and Macedonia. Rami performed a spontaneous violin concert at the refugee camp, carrying his violin, which he had studied with, all the way from Syria.

As Videmšek wrote, sometimes a miracle happens in journalism, and his story about the Syrian violinist spread worldwide. It was translated into several languages, covered by numerous media, and published in Videmšek’s book Na begu (On the Run), which was also released in Germany. The most iconic part of the story was the nomination for the European Journalism Award. The accompanying photograph taken by Jure Eržen at the border, was selected by Classic FM radio as one of the ten most iconic photos of “music in war.”The translation of Videmšek’s articles and Eržen’s photograph greatly contributed to Rami’s recognition in the music and media world.

Two years later, the then 22-year-old Rami released his album with the German label Decca. The album, which starts with “Ode to Joy,” was recorded with the Prague Symphony Orchestra.

In May 2017, it was selected as Album of the Week on the legendary British radio station Classic FM. Since arriving in Europe, Rami has performed on major European stages, including the famous Royal Albert Hall in London.

The purpose of celebrating Mediterranean Day with Rami Basisah is to speak through music about the power of art in bringing people together and to highlight the dimension of art that contributes positively to integrating into a new environment.

This time, Rami is coming to Slovenia with three other musicians from Syria and the Netherlands. Before the concert, there will be a discussion with Rami and Videmšek, joined by Ghaeth Almaghoot, a musician and longtime friend of Rami, who will later perform on stage with him.

The conversation will focus on the power of music, journalism, and photography, as they have played a significant role in Rami’s life.

 

Mediterranean Day 2024 – Rami Basisah Quartet

Program Highlights for the Evening:

1. 18:00 – Opening speech by the representative of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
2. Discussion:
   • Panelists: Rami Basisah, Boštjan Videmšek, Ghaeth Almaghoot
   • Moderator: Tina Lešničar, Program Manager for Jazz and World Music at Cankarjev Dom
   • Theme: The Role of Music and Journalism in Intercultural Dialogue
3. Concert:
   • Rami Basisah Quartet
   • Program: A fusion of classical Arabic music, traditional Middle Eastern sounds, and Balkan rhythms

 

Concert

Music

The Rami Basisah Quartet was founded by violinist Rami Basisah and clarinetist Ghaeth Almaghoot. Rami and Ghaeth began collaborating in 2013 in Homs, Syria. After fleeing the war in Syria, they kept in touch despite being in different parts of Europe, and their musical collaboration continued.

The sound of the quartet is characterized by a dialogue between Basisah’s emotionally charged violin and Almaghoot’s warm clarinet, complemented by the dynamic rhythms of percussionist Modar Salama and the modern sharpness of electric guitarist Sébastien Wrincq from Belgium. The quartet invites the audience on a journey through the musical landscapes of Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, and beyond.

Their compositions reflect personal experiences and stories, blending traditional melodies with original compositions, expressing the diverse backgrounds of the musicians.

Musicians:

Rami Basisah – Violin

Rami is a talented Syrian violinist who first encountered the violin at the age of eight in his hometown of Albayadiah near Homs. He grew up in a musically rich environment, which inspired him to study formally at the conservatory in Homs. Due to the war in Syria, he was forced to flee and continued his studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Stuttgart, Germany.

Despite numerous challenges, Rami achieved great success with his determination and talent. After arriving in Europe, he recorded his first album Rami My Journey with Decca Records. He has participated in various musical projects in Syria, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK, contributing to a wide range of musical genres and styles.

Rami’s musical expression reflects not only his personal journey but also serves as a bridge between cultures, creating music that resonates with audiences worldwide. His commitment to music remains inspiring as he faces various life challenges as a musician in the global world.

 

Ghaeth Almaghoot – Clarinet

Ghaeth is a Syrian-Dutch clarinetist from the city of Salamiyah in Syria. He started playing the clarinet at 21 and moved to the Netherlands in 2015 due to the war in Syria. Under the mentorship of Alex Simu, Ghaeth graduated from the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music. In 2022, he completed his master’s degree in ethnomusicology at Codarts Rotterdam.

Ghaeth has collaborated on many different projects and currently performs with the DAFA Trio and the bands Arif, Alwan, Madaba, L’Chaim, and Dyar Band.

He has performed in numerous countries (Mexico, South Korea, Tunisia, Egypt, Poland, Italy, Switzerland, France, Austria, Sweden, Belgium, Turkey, Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary) and has played and studied with renowned artists such as New York Gypsy All Stars, Ross Daly, Kudsi Ergunar, Alex Simu, Konrad Koselleck Big Band, Nederlands Blazers Ensemble, Lena Chamamyan, Ellen ten Damme, and many others.

 

Modar Salama – Percussion and Drums

Modar studied classical and oriental percussion at the Higher Institute of Music in Damascus and began building his career as a drummer in jazz ensembles and Latin American music, while also maintaining a connection to his roots.

He has played with the Syrian National Orchestra, the Syrian Big Band, and as a musician has been involved in numerous international projects in China, Jordan, Malaysia, Tunisia, Austria, Germany, Lebanon, Denmark, and Egypt.

He works on many projects as a percussionist and drummer and is developing his own style, closely connected to the soul of the Orient.

Sébastien Wrincq – Electric Guitar

is a Belgian guitar player. He started playing the electric guitar at the age of twelve and learned the basics of blues, rock and funk music in an autodidactic way.
At the age of fifteen he was accepted to study Jazz guitar at the renown music high school, Kunsthumaniora, in Brussels where he was taught by inspiring Jazz musicians such as Dieter Limburg, Bert Cools and many more. He auditioned at the age of 19 to study jazz guitar at the
conservatory of Rotterdam and was enrolled as a full time student.

He studied there with renowned musicians such as Ed Verhoef, Ronald Schmitz, Reinier Baas and many others.

Sébastien is currently in the last year of his Bachelor studies and is very present in the jazz and
world music scene of Rotterdam and performs regularly with different bands.
He is a polyvalent musician and likes to play a lot of different styles in different line-ups. He got
very inspired by Middle Eastern, Indian and Latin music and joined the Atmaca band in May 2019.

Event Time and Location

November 28, 2024, Atrium of ZRC

17:30 – 18:00 Arrival of Guests

Event will take place between 18:00 – 20:30

Discussion with Musicians and Journalist Boštjan Videmšek

Concert by the Rami Basisah Quartet

 

Event Concept and Organizer

The concert is organized by Zavod APIS with support from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and partners.

For more information, contact Romana Zajec, Project Manager.

Email: apis@zavodapis.si and +38631338616.