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| Ahmed Tofiq (center) with Orchestra Rouh/ Photo by Fran Dwight |
Can you tell us a little bit about the history of Orchestra Rouh?
The idea of Orchestra Rouh started when my wife and I started to help refugee families settle in Kalamazoo in 2016. Most of the families did not speak English and it wasn't easy for the kids to communicate and have friends. The kids felt left out, especially at school. We felt that the kids needed an actively to help them to adjust smoothly in the community. Music seemed like the best choice and something I could help them with.
What is the mission of Orchestra Rouch?
The mission of the orchestra is to help the kids to learn both eastern and western music so they can keep their heritage alive.
How often do the members of Orchestra Rouch get together to practice?
The program is in session five days a week. Each student comes on two days for group lessons in violin or cello and a percussion class. We have two groups, beginners and advanced students.
What is your musical background?
I started studying music when I was a teenager in Iraqi Kurdistan, where I grew up. I play the violin. Before I came to the United States I was a Violin Professor at Suleimaniyah Institute and Koya Institute of Fine Arts in Iraq. I taught and conducted Sulaimaniyah Children's Orchestra for an organization called Kurdistan Save the Children. I performed and toured with the Youth Orchestra of Iraq and Sulaimaniyah String Orchestra. I have a master’s degree in violin performance from Western Michigan University.
Why is musical education important, especially in the lives of refugee and immigrant families?
Music is important to bring together this group of children and help them share their cultural heritage with each other and the community. Our audiences are so supportive and love hearing the music we play. We believe giving the children a role in which they in turn are giving something special to the community is really important.
Our students go to many different schools during the day, so having a common place to spend time together is something they look forward to. But this is also a learning space for them, because even among the Syrian students there are some big differences in culture and language depending on where they came from and what their journeys looked like between Syria and the US. The music is a unifying factor.
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| Ahmed Tofiq (left) with Orchestra Rouh/Photo by RosaLee Ward |
With a wide age range, the multiple languages and other factors it has been challenging but very rewarding to see the orchestra take shape. After two years I can see how much progress the kids have made as players, and also when it comes to being organized and focused. You know…kids are kids!
How about the connection that Orchestra Rouh has with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra? Can you tell us how that partnership began?
It’s started after I graduated from WMU and I was trying to find a way that I could use my musical abilities and interests to help the refugee kids who were settling in Kalamazoo. I spoke to several people in the community and ultimately got in touch with Liz Youker, the Vice President of Education for the KSO. Liz responded and she was very exited and supportive to the idea. Orchestra Rouh would never have happened without the KSO’s enthusiasm and amazing support.
Now Orchestra Rouh is one of KSO’s education programs, and they support the program through fundraising and administration. We have three faculty members. I am the Project Director and I teach violin, conduct the orchestra, guide the curriculum and create arrangements of Middle Eastern music. Rebecca Spurbeck, a WMU student, is our cello instructor. Dede Alder leads a traditional percussion class.
And the partnership Orchestra Rouch has with The Suzuki Academy of Kalamazoo, how did that come about?
As we started the program, we needed to find a location that was convenient for families and volunteer drivers. We also wanted to set up an environment where students would be able to connect with American kids through music. The Suzuki Academy of Kalamazoo was the perfect choice for both of those reasons. We’re grateful that the Executive Director, Jacob Olbrot, shared our enthusiasm for the program and offered space in the SAK studios. Orchestra Rouh students perform often alongside and together with SAK students on community recitals.
What is the biggest challenge to running Orchestra Rouch? The biggest joy?
In the beginning we had to solve some logistical problems, but the support of the community has been great and helped us overcome them. Many of our students don’t have transportation to the program, but there is an amazing network of volunteers and cosponsors who are supporting Kalamazoo refugee families in many ways. They work together to create driving schedules and make sure the kids can be at rehearsals and performances.
Instruments can be expensive, but Meyer Music has stepped in, offering to lend instruments that we need for the program. And we can exchange them as kids grow and need larger instruments.
Funding is a challenge as well, but Orchestra Rouh has received support and recognition through KSO grant applications, including to the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, Okun Foundation, Stryker-Johnston Foundation, and Carnegie Hall’s PlayUSA program. We accept donations from individuals as well and many people have contributed in the past two years.
How about the Bayati Ensemble? How did the Ensemble come about?
Even before the Bayati Ensemble was formed, we had the Bahar Ensemble. It's a group of five professional members. We play Middle Eastern music and perform frequently at events in Kalamazoo.
We wanted to extend the opportunity to play this music to more people in the community. Liz and I talked to Dr. Beau Bothwell, a K-College music professor who specializes in Middle Eastern studies. Together we developed the Bayati Ensemble, which is open to K-College and WMU students for course credit and to community musicians. It’s a great opportunity for musicians to come together and play new music for Kalamazoo. This is the first ensemble of its kind in our community. There is a huge variety of music from the Middle East and we draw from many different traditions. We hope to add more traditional instruments as the ensemble grows.
The only requirement to join the ensemble is to have basic proficiency on an instrument. We can take string players, winds, percussion, keyboard, and are looking for oud, saz, sagat, and qanun players and vocalists with experience in Middle Eastern traditions.
Rehearsal schedules follow the K-College academic calendar. Interested musicians can email Dr. Beau Bothwell at beau.bothwell@kzoo.edu.
What is the mission of the Bayati Ensemble?
The Bayati Ensemble is intended to engage Kalamazoo student and community musicians in the study and performance of Middle Eastern music, and to create greater awareness and appreciation of Middle Eastern music and culture through concerts.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention?
Facebook pages are available for Bahar Ensemble and Orchestra Rouh. We welcome interested listeners to follow us to hear about upcoming performances.
Bayati Ensemble
Tuesday, March
12, 6:30pm
Kalamazoo
College Light Fine Arts Center, Lecture Hall
Orchestra Rouh
Monday, April 8,
6:30pm
KPL Oshtemo
Branch Library
Orchestra Rouh
and Bahar Ensemble
Sunday, April
14, 3:00pm
Westminster
Presbyterian Church, 1515 Helen Ave, Portage, MI 49002, USA
Many thanks to Liz Youker, Vice-President of Education & Community Partnerships with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, for making this interview possible!
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