An archive of News, Events, Teacher's Corner blog posts, and In The News notes that are tagged with the subject of "interview"

South Philly Review features Concert of Arab Music

The GAMP High School Jazz Band Performs

The GAMP High School Jazz Band Performs

Cross Cultural Concert

by Amanda Snyder, South Philly Review
published May 28, 2009

‘With a growing Lebanese population around 10th and Federal streets, and pockets of Arabs in the North and Northeast, Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture is using the universal language of music to bridge the potential gap between younger generations and the understanding of countries such as Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The communications lesson hit a high note May 19 at Girard Academic Music Program, 22nd and Ritner streets, with three jazz bands, a choir, as well as Al-Bustan’s percussion and music ensembles, performing classical and jazz fusion Arabic music for an audience that may have been hearing the cultural strains for the very first time.’

Click here for the full article and review of Al-Bustan’s concert of Arab Music, co-presented by GAMP School in their beautiful new auditorium located at 22nd and Ritner Streets.

Al-Bustan Profiled by International Press

Cultivating Arab Culture

by Lee Bailey

published August, 3, 2008 in The National, a leading English-language newspaper in Abu Dhabi

Al-Bustan Campers making Palestinian embroidery, photographed by Jessica Kourkounis

Al-Bustan Campers making Palestinian embroidery, photographed by Jessica Kourkounis

‘. . .During the past three weeks, 55 children aged six to 16 have come every weekday to Springside to participate in Al Bustan (“the garden” in Arabic). A tour of the building can be an assault on the ears, but a pleasant one: a chorus of children counting aloud in Arabic gives way to the giggling of teenagers shooting a video dispelling ethnic stereotypes, their chatter then drowned out by the impressive thunder of traditional Arab drumming. Embroidery stitched by tiny hands adorns the hallways, and everyday objects ranging from blackboards to toilets are colourfully labelled in both English and Arabic.

“My favourites are art class and dabke,” says Keira Norford, age 12. “Dabke is a dance they do in some Middle Eastern countries,” she adds helpfully, as an afterthought. If the children of Al Bustan are consciously informative in conversation, then the camp’s organisers have achieved their primary objective. “We want kids to leave here loving Arabic language and culture, and to be able to share that with others,” says Hazami Sayed, Al Bustan’s founder and director. She estimates that the camp is split evenly between children with two Arab parents, children with partial Arab heritage, and children with no Arab background whatsoever. Campers’ families practice a variety of religions, including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.’

Click here to read the full article.

Philadelphia Inquirer covers Al-Bustan School Program

Article about Al-Bustan’s weekly music and storytelling workshops offered at Feltonville School of Arts and Sciences, in the Philadelphia Inquirer by Kristen Graham on May 28, 2008:

Philadelphia Inquirer

Voice of America Interviews Al-Bustan’s Executive Director

Voice of America Logo
Hazami Sayed Makes Arabic Art, History Come Alive for Philadelphia Youth

by Stacia Demarco
published April 29, 2008

‘Hazami Sayed refers to her family as “accidental immigrants.” She and her husband had intended to return to the Middle East after attending college in the United States, but became comfortable in their jobs and lifestyle and decided to stay. But Arab culture and heritage have always been an integral part of her family life; Sayed, who was raised in Kuwait by her Lebanese and Egyptian parents, calls herself a “Pan Arab.” She and her family regularly travel to the Middle East to visit family and friends and to expose her two sons to Arab culture. . .’

Click here for the full interview with Al-Bustan’s Founder and Executive Director Hazami Sayed on Voice of America – American Life.

Archived Media Coverage

Article on Music and Memory: Legacy in a New World concert with A.J. Racy and the MidEast Ensemble at Swarthmore College, by Alex Ho, March 6, 2008:

The Phoenix

Article on Al-Bustan Camp in Roxborough Review by Jeremy Barker, August 1, 2007:

Roxborough Review

Coverage of Andalusian Concert in City Paper by Mary Armstrong, July 10, 2007:

City Paper

Al-Bustan Press Release announcing national artisitc recognition from National Endowment for the Arts:

Al-Bustan Press Release 5-18-07.pdf

Coverage of December 9th, 2006 Celebration and Weekend Workshops in City Paper by Mary Armstrong, January 2007:

City Paper

Coverage of December 9th Celebration in University City Review, December 2006:

University City Review

Coverage of Al-Bustan Camp in Chestnut Hill Local August 2006:

Chestnut Hill Local

An interview with Hazami Sayed in e-magazine, MidEast Connect, April 2006:

MidEast Connect

An interview by ADC’s Sophie Parish with Hazami Sayed in April 2005:

ADC Interview

A personal perspective by Yasmin Adib, parent of an Al-Bustan participant, and currently Development Coordinator of Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture:

Morris Arboretum Story

Articles on Al-Bustan Camp featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer July 2002:

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/3655990.htm

in the Philadelphia Daily News July 2003:

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/6363255.htm

in the Chestnut Hill Local July 2003:

ChestnutHillArticle

in the Chestnut Hill Local July 2004:

ChestnutHillPhoto

and in the Public Garden Journal 2004:

PublicGardenArticle.pdf

This article was originally published in The Public Garden, Volume 19, Number 1, 2004, and is posted on this website with the permission of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta.