13 August 2008
MANSOURIEH: Forty-six young Lebanese musicians will fly to Geneva Wednesday to show Switzerland and Lebanon what they can do. Part of The Lebanese Band Association for the promotion of Music (LeBAM), the musicians, ages 10-18, will perform two concerts on April 17, in Geneva and Berne.<p>LeBAM is the brainchild of MP Ghassan Moukheiber, who says the organization started with a great dream and now it has started to come true. Once a student of the oboe, Moukheiber put music on hold for academic studies. </p><p>Then I was too busy with lawyering and with politics, he continues. This instrument was sleeping too long in my drawer, so he decided to revive his involvement in music. </p><p>Moukheiber created LeBAM along with Ghassan Tueni, former publisher of An-Nahar and Lebanese Ambassador to the U.N., and Walid Gholmieh, director of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music. </p><p>The organization began with one school in Beit Meri three years ago. Students came from the surrounding areas, and instruments were free, although at first there were not enough to go around. Kids committed each Saturday to music lessons.</p><p>The students now own their instruments, and the Beit Meri school has since moved to Mansourieh. There is also a second branch in Baskinta, with an ambitious total of 10 schools planned across the country.</p><p>Teachers, most from the National Conservatory, receive a nominal fee, but the program is not cheap to run. Some instruments have been donated, and others purchased by LeBAM. Until now, the program has been funded largely by the city of Geneva and some individual donors, but it is in need of new funding. </p><p>Lina Hamdan, LeBAMs communications manager, estimates that for the launching of one branch we need $50,000 to buy the instruments, and then we need $40,000 a year to operate each branch.</p><p>Of some 80 students who study at Mansourieh, 46 will perform in Switzerland next week. Many of them began three years ago with no musical experience or knowledge of how to read music, but now they have truly become a full concert band. </p><p>Comprised of percussion, woodwind, and brass instruments, their repertoire includes Lebanese, American, and European music.</p><p>A.J. Jimenez, who along with Sergei Bolun co-conducts the band, comes from the American concert band tradition, where musical education is an integral part of academic studies. Music education is important, she says, because it is part of the learning and the growth and nurturing of a child. Its about culture, its about responsibility, and skill building in every subject you do.</p><p>The musicians participation does have one catch. </p><p>The students, Hamdan says, can never play in any religious or partisan occasion. No marriages, no condolences or funerals. No political meetings. [They can only play at] national occasions, fundraising for the school, or other concerts for a good cause.</p><p>This commitment to secularism is part of LeBAMs devotion to cooperation. Moukheiber says the band is a true lesson for politicians and all the Lebanese about how to cooperate. It teaches the flute how much it needs the tuba. It teaches kids to appreciate Latin and jazz as much as Lebanese music. </p><p>After a rehearsal in Mansourieh, tuba-playing Wissam, 18, says he likes the band because we play with one heart. Its a great experience. We have had to work a lot to get to the highest level, and we are [basically] living with each other for 3 years. He also noted that he likes the tuba because you cant have a band without [his] instrument.</p><p>Sinta, a 15-year-old clarinet player, says she didnt know any other members of the orchestra before joining, but now she enjoys being with [her] friends and playing with them.</p><p>Moukheiber, who will be joining the band on their trip, says that to call the musicians excited is an understatement. For all of them it is the first time they [will] travel [outside the country] in their lives, so it is not only an opportunity to play music but also to meet Swiss friends.</p><p>The band will also play with their Swiss friends, beginning Sunday at Genevas ornate 19th-century Victoria Hall. The program at the 1,600-seat venue will be comprised of performances by the LeBAM band, as well as two Swiss concert bands. Finally, the three bands, 150 musicians in total, will play several Lebanese songs together.</p><p>Later in the day, the LeBAM group will take a bus to Berne to perform again there.</p><p>Sinta, the clarinet player, says that it [will be] really good to see new people, and play with them. Its really so new.</p><p>Moukheiber says this is [about] a democracy and collaboration [the concerts in Switzerland will show] a different image of Lebanon to Switzerland It is a message of hope for the Lebanese because it shows that [Lebanese] are not people that are blood thirsty. They are music thirsty.</p><p>LeBAM will perform at Genevas Victoria Hall on Sunday at 11 a.m. Tickets are free of charge. For more information call +41 (0) 22 418 35 00.</p>
Copyright The Daily Star 2008.
