About the Artists
Bassam Saba of Lebanon is a world-renowned virtuoso, multi-instrumentalist, and leading figure of Arabic music. Saba studied nay, oud and violin at the Lebanon National Conservatory and Western Classical Music and Flute Performance in Paris and Moscow. He has toured extensively with Fairouz, as well as Marcel Khalife, Simon Shaheen and Ziad Rahbani. He has collaborated with classical and pop stars such as Yo-Yo Ma, Sting, Alicia Keys and Santana, and jazz icons such as Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones. Saba, a highly sought-after teacher of Arabic music, co-founded and directs the New York Arabic Orchestra.
April Centrone is the co-founder and lead percussionist of the New York Arabic Orchestra (2007), an organization specializing in the performance, education, and preservation of Arabic music. Centrone has toured with Ziad Rahbani, Bassam Saba and Marcel Khalife in venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. She has toured and lectured throughout Europe, the Americas, Middle East and the Far East. During her residence in Lebanon from 2013 to 2016, she founded project Juthoor, an Arabic music and language project for refugee youth, and Ikaro, a women’s frame drum meditation group.
Founded in 2007 by Bassam Saba, the New York Arabic Orchestra is a professional music ensemble and year-round training program in Arabic music. Its mission is the preservation and promotion of classical Arabic music through concerts, new compositions, and education. In the workshops, children are introduced to Arabic instruments such as the nay, oud, qanun, and Arabic percussion through engaging, interactive sessions inspiring curiosity, creativity, meditation, and expression.