Iraqi Student Project Presents:
Karam Salem and The Sparkling Choir of Love
An evening of music and conversation
Friday, March 18 at 7:30pm
Ballard Trinity United Methodist Church
“I compose music as a way to reflect upon something that I have experienced, something that someone has told me or something that people need to know about. I am very sure that, through my music, I can build bridges to let people know who Iraqis are and what Iraq is. I am like a journalist: my way to publish is by composing music.”
– Karam Salem
Seattle, WA – On March 18, the local chapter of the Iraqi Student Project (ISP) proudly presents a performance by visiting artist Karam Salem, playing his original compositions, with a special selection of songs from Ballard’s Sparkling Choir of Love.
Karam Salem is an accomplished pianist who will combine his compositions with discussion about his home country, Iraq, and the impact of ISP on his life. Karam is an ISP student in his third year of study at Holy Cross College in South Bend, Indiana.
The Iraqi Student Project (ISP) helps young Iraqi students complete their college educations by working with US schools to arrange scholarships and tuition waivers for the students.
Karam will be joined by The Sparkling Choir of Love, an exuberant, mixed-voice ensemble based in Seattle, Washington, which specializes in the performance of American spirituals, gospel, and sacred folk music. The choir seeks “to promote the opening of people’s hearts to love and healing through inspired performances of wonderful music.“
About The Iraqi Student Project
The Iraqi Student Project (ISP) is a grass-roots effort to help young people who have studied in Iraq acquire the education they need to participate in rebuilding their country. ISP began operating in 2006, after founders Gabe Huck and Theresa Kubasak moved to Damascus to study Arabic. The couple met and befriended a number of young Iraqis who’d fled to Syria with their families, and whose educations had been interrupted by violence and occupation.
Recognizing the students’ passion and the need for an entire generation to pursue an education, Gabe and Theresa reached out to colleges in the United States to provide scholarships for qualified students. Over the past three years, ISP has placed 35 students at colleges all across the US, from Union College in New York to Dominican University in San Rafael, California. Please check out the website (www.iraqistudentproject.org) to learn more.
The Seattle chapter works with colleges in Pacific Northwest to explore potential tuition waivers for ISP students. Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA plans to welcome an ISP student for Fall 2011.
Funds raised by the concert will go to support sophomore Andrew Birwari in Olympia, who studied with ISP in Damascus and whose tuition waiver at The Evergreen State College was arranged by ISP and a group of Evergreen students.
TICKETS:
$15 general admission.
$12 for students and seniors.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/158336 or by calling 1(800) 838-3006.
Link to piece Karam played in New York (scroll down to “Recent Recordings”): http://www.instantencore.com/contributor/contributor.aspx?CId=5131536
Link to our Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=202275039786374
Ballard Trinity United Methodist Church:
6512 23rd Avenue Northwest
Seattle, WA 98117-5728
(206) 784-2227
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