Classical Concert to Unite Israeli Arab, Jew

On the other side of the world, their cultures are fighting.

But on Saturday night, cellist Inbal Megiddo, an Israeli Jew, and pianist Saleem Abboud Ashkar, an Israeli Arab, will join to perform classical music in Hill Hall auditorium.

Carolina Students for Israel, Masala and the University Center for International Studies are co-sponsoring the concert, titled "Harmony Amidst Discord." The performance will be free and open to the public.

Abboud Ashkar and Megiddo will play selections from Beethoven, Bach, de Falla, Shostakovich and Popper.

The musicians have been touring together since they met two years ago at a Middle Eastern music festival. They recently played for the U.N. General Assembly in Geneva, Megiddo said.

She said her work with Abboud Ashkar is motivated musically and should not be interpreted as some kind of political statement from either musician. She also said she would like to see collaborations like theirs become more commonplace.

For students, however, the concert might take on a deeper meaning.

Ruthie Warshenbrot, chairwoman of the N.C. Hillel concert planning committee and a member of Carolina Students for Israel, said the concert will symbolize harmony.

"Relations between (Jews and Arabs) are not quite so harmonious, but these two are creating harmony together through their music," Warshenbrot said.

"The news shows the bad things," she said. "The news doesn't show the Arab and the Jew playing music together, and that's what we're going to show Saturday night."

Or Mars, executive director of Hillel, said the concert initially appealed to him because of its message.

"The message is that we see so much turmoil in the news, and we have to remember that there is a real human element in the turmoil," Mars said. "While there are things we see that are negative, there is a faint glimmer of hope. This is an example of a glimmer of hope."

Mars said the concert can teach students to appreciate art's ability to unite people and enhance their achievements.

"I think (students) can learn the power of art and the power of music. And beautiful music is a celebration of human achievement," he said. "That's the reason why we care about our cultures -- because it brings us to heights of our achievements."

The concert will take place at 8 p.m. Saturday in Hill Hall auditorium and is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Hillel at 942-4057.

The Arts & Entertainment Editor can be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu.