Events Concert for a Cause: Malek Jandali at ArtisTree

Join us as we welcome Malek Jandali, composer, pianist and founder of Pianos for Peace, a not for profit organization that aims to build peace through music and education.

Opening by 13 year old, Woodstock pianist, William Drebitko.  Will has partnered with Jandali to bring Pianos for Peace to Vermont.  Additional events will include a workshop for middle/high school students as well as the donation of a painted piano to Scotland House, a new adult day health and wellness care facility for adults with physical and/or cognitive impairments.  

MALEK JANDALI Composer and Pianist | Founder of Pianos for Peace

“… heart-rending melodies, lush orchestration, clever transitions and creative textures,” – American Record Guide

“… a major new addition to the 21st century’s symphonic literature.” – Fanfare Magazine

His work is described by Gramophone as “deeply enigmatic” and by American Record Guide as having “heart-rending melodies, lush orchestration, clever transitions and creative textures,” composer Malek Jandali is widely regarded as “a major new addition to the 21st century’s symphonic literature” as noted by Fanfare Magazine.

Recent commissions and premieres include a Viola Concerto for Roberto Diaz, a String Quartet for the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, and a world premiere by Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop who described The Silent Ocean as “an evocative and emotional journey for musicians and audience members. In this piece Jandali captures the struggle, trauma and triumph of our displaced brothers and sisters, through the voice of a child. It is a beautiful and important message.” Mr. Jandali’s compositions not only integrate Middle-Eastern modes into Western classical forms and harmony, but also echo UNESCO’s call to preserve and protect the rich cultural heritage of his homeland Syria at a time when it is being eradicated.

His repertoire ranges from chamber music to large-scale orchestral works including four symphonies, five symphonic dances, and six concertos for piano, violin, viola and cello. Mr. Jandali’s works have been performed by numerous orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Stockholm Solister, Norrlandsoperan Symphony orchestra, Cairo Symphony Orchestra, and the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Jandali also has self-produced seven albums representing excellent performances of 40 of his compositions. His albums Syrian Symphony, SoHo, Hiraeth, and The Jasmine Tree were released at Carnegie Hall’s Weil Recital Hall in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 respectively. The Huffington Post described his work as “inspiring” and Bob Stevenson of NPR stated that his music is both “moving and thought provoking.”

Mr. Jandali recently recorded his Elegy in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of David Firman who described the music as “gorgeous, haunting, yearning and full of hope, with a pain more personal than that of Tchaikovsky or Rachmaninoff.” He also recorded his Piano Concerto in Moscow with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Sergey Kondrsahev. Both are scheduled for release in 2019/20. The Syrian children were the inspiration for Mr. Jandali’s second symphony, Luminosity, which was commissioned and premiered by the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. In 2016, the ZPO recorded Luminosity at The American Academy of Arts & Letters in New York City and performed the world premiere of Mr. Jandali’s third symphony, Hiraeth, at Lisinski Hall under the baton of Pavle Dešpalj. Recent chamber music commissions include String Quartet and Piano Quintet by the Apollo Chamber Players, Saxophone Quartet by Wright State University, String Quartet by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, and a Symphonic Poem by Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra which received a standing ovation and “found a rapt audience at its world premiere.” (The Washington Post)

Also an “acclaimed pianist” noted for his combination of passion, imagination and authenticity (BBC WorldNews), Mr. Jandali enjoys a remarkable career that has taken him around the globe to countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Norway, Qatar, and Australia. He continues to captivate audiences in performances at such prestigious venues as the Kennedy Center, Wiener Konzerthaus, National Auditorium in Madrid with the Queen of Spain in attendance, Cadogan Hall, Stockholm Konserthuset, Cairo Opera House, Nidarus Cathedral, Sydney Opera House, the United Nations Headquarters and Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, among others.

His causes go beyond those of humanitarian activism, as he is regularly recognized by and invited to speak to key academic institutions such as Harvard University, the Skoll World Form at Oxford, Duke University, Aspen Ideas Festival, Fordham University, the United Nations headquarters in New York City and the Doha Debates at Georgetown University in Qatar, TEDx Talk at Georgia Tech and Sydney Ideas talk at the University of Sydney.

Mr. Jandali is the recipient of the 2014 Global Music Humanitarian Award and in 2015, The Carnegie Corporation of New York honored him as a Great Immigrant. He is a strong advocate for peace and was selected as a Visiting Scholar for the 2017/2018 academic year in the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights at Rutgers University. Mr. Jandali is very passionate about making the arts accessible to all and is the founder and CEO of Pianos for Peace, a non-profit organization dedicated to building peace through music and education. He embraces young talent from all over the world through the annual Malek Jandali International Youth Piano Competition. Mr. Jandali makes his home in both Manhattan and Atlanta. His music is published exclusively by Soul b Music and his discography is available on iTunes, Amazon and at Virgin Megastores worldwide.

Pianos for Peace is a not for profit organization that aims to build peace through music and education. The organization achieves its mission through programming, performances and its Pianos for Peace events.  For two weeks every fall, Pianos for Peace brings beautifully painted pianos to public parks and streets throughout metro Atlanta for everyone and anyone to enjoy. As one of the largest public art display projects in Atlanta, Pianos for Peace impacts an estimated half a million Atlantans and visitors each year. After the two week outdoor festival, all pianos are donated to local schools, nursing homes, healthcare facilities and community centers where their volunteer artists will participate in year-long meaningful programs that make the art accessible to all. Learn more at www.PianosForPeace.org