“Awakening” by MIT Wind Ensemble
The world premiere of "Awakening," by composer and alumnus Jamshied Sharifi '83. The work debuted in March 2012, performed by the MIT Wind Ensemble, led by Dr. Frederick E. Harris, conductor of the ensemble, and Director of Wind and Jazz Ensembles for MIT Music and Theater Arts.
The music, and ultimately the documentary film, were set in motion by conductor Harris' vision for engaging his MIT music students with the momentous events of the Arab Spring. To encourage his students to contemplate and understand the historical context for the Arab Spring, Harris proposed to Sharifi that he compose a piece that related to the movement sweeping Egypt and other Arab countries.
Suggested links
SHASS News archive: "Awakening" pays tribute to the Arab Spring