Pianist Malek Jandali Creates New Album In Honor Of His Syrian Heritage
All proceeds from this album will be donated to support Syrian children in refugee camps.
Malek Jandali
Pianist Malek Jandali has released a new recording continuing his musical quest to honor the heritage of his Syrian homeland.
The album was commissioned by Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Dr. Dan Lugo, president of Queens University, and Jandali joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes via Zoom to talk about Jandali’s original piano concerto and other compositions on the new album.
Interview Highlights
Jandali and Lugo celebrate their partnership at the university:
“I feel I am back home; I have a family. Especially with what’s going on with the global pandemic, it’s given me this sense of security as an artist. Musicians around the world, they were hit hardest with this pandemic,” said Jandali. “And here comes my school, supporting me as a composer, saying, ‘Stay home, keep composing, engaging orchestras around the world; be our composer.’”
“When you listen to Malek’s work, the genius is just incredible,” said Lugo. “And it can be intimidating to think about, ‘How do you do that?’ But our students can now … see that genius is about hard work and training and inspiration, finding one’s voice and identity, and you, too, have great opportunities to be that type of a creator. That wouldn’t be possible but for having a composer in residence.”
On how music can preserve endangered cultures:
“This week, we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Syrian revolution for freedom and dignity. Within these last 10 years, a lot of beauty has been lost in Syria. Monuments, people, brains. Thank goodness nobody can touch music.”
“Inspiration came with the Muslim ban that we had from the previous administration. It was such a shocking decision, as an American, to be that bold against certain people,” said Jandali. “I felt a duty to present the beautiful side of that culture, that religion, through music. Through the magic power of music. At the end of the day, music doesn’t build walls — it builds bridges.”
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