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Middle East Music Ensemble-Chicago

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Embracing quarter-tones, celebrating diversity, and sharing extraordinary Middle Eastern music: a 70-piece orchestra directed by @wanees_zarour

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OUT TODAY at 7:30 PM Central - Rah Nibqa Sawa رح نبقى سوا by Ziad Rahbani - exactly as he intended by the 85-piece Middle East Music Ensemble. @shamabyad solo voice, @firaszreik special guest on qanun, and @andrewlawrencemusic special guest on piano. Design by @kifmakanstudio Transcribed/partially arranged and directed by @wanees_zarour #Ziadrahbani #Arabicmusic #MiddleEastMusicEnsemble by @memechicago

If you want to become a new member, please fill out the form linked in the bio. Limited seats available. We’re mainly looking for violas, violins, winds, brass and jazz piano. Auditions take place on Oct 1 by @memechicago

TEASER!!! #ziadrahbani #liverecording by @memechicago

A detailed post will follow... I first heard this arrangement of "Mais el-Reem" on a bus traveling between cities in Egypt as a teenager. More than two decades later, I finally had the opportunity to transcribe it and perform it with the Middle East Music Ensemble @memechicago as part of our "Salute to Ziad Rahbani" concert.
Ziad's music changed my life. His writing was one of the reasons I pursued jazz, composition, and arranging, and this piece has stayed with me since the day I first heard it.
Performed by MEME with special guests @firaszreik and @andrewlawrencemusic. Cover art by Mariam Krisht @kifmakanstudio
#ZiadRahbani #Fairouz #MaisElReem #MiddleEastMusicEnsemble #ArabicMusic #Orchestra #Jazz #LevantineMusic by @memechicago

Middle Eastern Music Ensemble 2026 Concert "Louder than Words" by @memechicago

Another successful concert took place on May 23 with 80 members of MEME on the stage. @memechicago

Imagine being surrounded by professional musicians, each playing their instrument, while you add your own voice to their melody. That feeling excites me at every MEME concert, and I’m truly grateful to be part of such an amazing group of talented musicians and wonderful choir friends.

They are not only incredibly talented, but also genuinely kind people, and every time we come together it feels therapeutic for me. I’m especially thankful to Wanees Zarour @wanees_zarour for leading us with so much patience, kindness, and a brotherly spirit. Thanks to his leadership, everything always comes together in such a professional and beautiful way.

Our next concert will probably be in 6–7 months, and we’re already looking forward to it.

I also added a video of the full audience at the end — because this is exactly why we love making these concerts happen. Thank you so much to everyone who joined us and shared your love and support with us.

And a huge thank you once again to all the members of MEME. I truly appreciate all of your help, support, and love before, during, and after my performance. Your kindness and encouragement mean so much to me.
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#universityofchicago #meme #turkisharabicpersian #internationalconcert #liveconcertchicago by @memechicago

يمّا مويل الهوا

‎‏
Home away from home. 🤍 @memechicago by @memechicago

When Wanees Zarour goes off script
Middle Eastern Music Ensemble @uchicagomusic
@wanees_zarour by @memechicago

Middle Eastern Music Ensemble @uchicagomusic
@shamabyad by @memechicago

Middle Eastern Music Ensemble - U Chicago by @memechicago

The Middle East Music Ensemble presents our spring concert, LOUDER THAN WORDS under the direction of @wanees_zarour.

Join us on Saturday, May 23rd at 7pm at @uchicago’s Logan Center for the Arts.

Tickets are first come first serve and donation based.

Doors open at 6:30pm with music at 7pm.

“So leave our country
Our land, our sea
Our wheat, our salt, our wounds
Everything, and leave
The memories of memory
O those who pass between fleeting words!”

—Mahmoud Darwish, excerpt featured in the central flower motif

🎨 Design courtesy of @kifmakanstudio

#chicago #chicagomusic #chicagoensemble #maqam #middleeast by @memechicago

🌸 Happy Nowruz! 🌸
Last weekend, the ISAC Museum came alive to welcome the Persian New Year — with crafts, festive snacks, gallery talks exploring the wonders of ancient Persia, and enchanting performances by UChicago’s Middle Eastern Music Ensemble @memechicago). ✨
A heartfelt thank you to our cherished long-time sponsors — the Zoroastrian Association of North America and Federation (FEZANA, @thefezana) and the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago (ZAMC, @zoroastrian_chicago ) — whose support has made this celebration possible year after year. 🙏
And as we look ahead to the new year, here’s a touch of history — swipe to see a throwback to our very first Nowruz collaboration in 2016.
Nowruz Mobarak! نوروز مبارک by @memechicago