The Symphonyat orchestra festival returns for its third edition on September 14 at Anfa Park in Casablanca. This year’s edition will feature four prominent artists: Moroccan singer-songwriter Houda Saad; Nassim Haddad, a master in the Aita traditional genre; singer Benjamin Bouzaglou, a devotee of the Judeo-Arabic music Chgouri; and Mehdi Nassouli, a musician designated as “the next generation of the Gnawa tradition” in Morocco.
These musicians and many others will be directed by Tom Cohen, the world-renowned conductor, composer, and current Head Conductor and Artistic Director of the East-West Jerusalem Orchestra. Cohen is known for his ability to integrate music from the MENA region into classical and western music and has worked with a variety of orchestras including the Israel Philharmonic, the Algerian Shaabi Orchestra, L’Orchestre Symphonique Andalu de Montreal, The Med Orchestra of Belgium, and previous iterations of Symphonyat.
Symphonyat will be managed by the Avempace Ibnou Bâjja Association, which promotes Moroccan culture and music globally through several non-profits. Featuring more than 40 performers, half of whom are Moroccan, Symphonyat showcases more than ten world cultures as well as the diverse Moroccan heritage.
The performance begins at 8:30pm on September 14, with doors opening at 6:00pm. Tickets are available on ticket.ma.