13 April - Seventh Day of MECMA
Running until 21 April, The Middle East Classical Music Academy (MECMA) is an intensive two-week project comprising classes, lectures, and seminars, offering not only masterclasses for youth orchestras but a series of individual masterclasses in different categories, including violin, cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, and others. Each course is led by a host of internationally acclaimed pedagogues and professors, along with a series of daily lunchtime concerts featuring internationally acclaimed soloists, orchestras and conductors.
Providing the ultimate classical music training for today’s artists in the spectacular cosmopolitan setting of Dubai, MECMA returned on Sunday, 13 April 2025. As the academy moves into its second week, the focus sharpened on individual growth and ensemble cohesion, with students continuing to benefit from close interaction with world-class faculty.
At 9:30 am sharp, attendees flocked to the Sky Zayed Room on the 40th floor for a series of intensive orchestral masterclasses by professors Yana Kasiyan, Kuldzhanova Aijan, Birzhan Uteliev and Raisa Musahadzhaeva along with the Kurmangazy Symphony and MECMA Symphony, who offered attendees detailed feedback, pushing them to improve their musical expression and confidence.
Individual masterclasses also took place on the 5th and 6th floor, starting off with an educational session on the grand piano conducted by Alan Chircop (Malta), who is a leading conductor of over thirty-five international orchestras in various theatres, concert halls and festivals in twenty different countries, in the elegant surrounds of Room 1, Dalia. Next, celebrated pianist, conductor, and music producer Albert Mamriev (Germany) led a session on the grand piano in Room 2, Dania, emphasising mastering technique, pedalization, interpretation and the art of sound. This was followed by a lecture on basic musical techniques in Room 3, Sapphire, by Nikita Zimin, president of the Eurasian Saxophone Association, and Jesús Fernández (Spain), associate trombone soloist with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, as well as professor of trombone at the Simón Bolívar Conservatory of Music.
After a rigorous masterclass, Mamriev remarked, ''I'm really glad to be invited to this wonderful city and feel very honoured to be a part of this wonderful festival. I have always had a positive impression of the projects organised by CMDI events; they are unbelievably impressive, on maximum culmination, with fantastic emotional notes, many good feelings, and wonderful, unforgettable moments. It feels like being part of a family, where I get to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones; the atmosphere is simply incredible,'' he continued, ''All my students are little diamonds. They are all very enthusiastic and attentive, listening to each word and suggestion. Naturally, this motivation drives you to provide even more information and maximise our limited time together."
Zimin expressed similar sentiments, saying, ''My masterclass covered a lot of things. We discussed tradition, quality, techniques, and, of course, music. The general idea was that technique serves music. Primarily, we focused on style, respect for the composer, and elegance while exploring how these elements interact on the saxophone. We delved into the relationship between technique and music, the importance of imagination and the physical aspects required for a professional saxophone player.''
He added, ''I think MECMA is a fantastic project. It brings together people from all over the world, offering them a unique opportunity to experience top-class performances. They attend masterclasses each day and enjoy concerts in the evening, which truly inspires them and immerses them into the entire musical process, like studying, sharing emotions and ideas, listening to music and interacting with leading pedagogues. When they return home, they will never forget this experience, leaving inspired and super motivated to continue playing music and sharing their ideas.''
There’s also a strong sense of appreciation among the students, with one sharing his happiness for attending MECMA, saying, "It's my pleasure to be a part of this program, participating in the masterclass and concerts. This is a great opportunity, firstly, to explore the city of Dubai. Secondly, it allows us to learn from exceptional professors who are true professionals in their fields and to meet people from other countries."
Day by day, MECMA continues to shape not just musicians but future professionals — refining their skills while offering real-world performance experience. As week one comes to a close, participants look forward to another exhilarating week of musical training and immersive concert experiences.
For regular updates about MECMA and its daily offerings, visit our official website for the latest news.
