14 April - Eighth Day of MECMA
Taking place from 6 April until the 21st of the month, the much-awaited Middle East Classical Music Academy (MECMA) is back for its second and final week in Dubai, providing world-class musical education to talented young artists coming together from all over the world. This year’s MECMA will see up-and-coming musicians across the region being given the unique opportunity to study and learn from masters of the classical music realm first-hand, gaining a deeper insight into their instrument and a newfound understanding of their abilities.
As MECMA 2025 reached its midpoint on Monday, 14 April, participants engaged in a series of individual and orchestral masterclasses aimed at fostering new generations of the world’s most talented musicians. These sessions provided musical training of an unparalleled standard to help students make the transition from novice into professionals of a high standard.
Firstly, orchestral masterclasses took place from 9 am to 5 pm in the Sky Zayed Room on the 40th floor and the Emerald Room on the 5th floor. These sessions were conducted by esteemed professors Yana Kasiyan, Kuldzhanova Aijan, Batirdzhan Smakov, Ekaterina Zaboronok and Birzhan Uteliev along with the Kurmangazy Symphony, MECMA Symphony and Young-Jin Choe.
Principal bassoonist of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Choe expressed his excitement about being a part of MECMA, saying, ''Since COVID, I didn't have many opportunities to travel outside of Japan or Korea to teach young students, so I'm really honoured to have the chance to do that here in Dubai. It was not only meaningful for the students but also for me as I was able to share my music and technical skills with these enthusiastic young learners. The energetic exchange with them was a wonderful experience."
On the other hand, with no single dull moment, musically or socially, individual masterclasses were held in the Dalia and Dania rooms on the 6th floor and the Sapphire and Emerald rooms on the 5th floor, focusing on winds, piano and strings instruments. These were led by a roster of world-renowned professors and pedagogues consisting of some of the most illustrious names in the music industry today, namely, one of the most sought-after cellists of his generation, Alexander Ramm; First Prize and Golden Medal winner at the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Sergei Dogadin (Austria); professor for piano and chamber music at the University Mozarteum, Cordelia Höfer-Teutsch (Austria); acclaimed Neapolitan violinist Riccardo Zamuner (Italy); and bassoon player of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra since 1993, Jun-ichi Mori (Japan).
However, the highlight of the day was none other than the sensational daytime show at the stunning Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel's luxurious Zabeel Theatre. The concert showcased the talents of the renowned Kazakh State Symphony Orchestra, the leading musical group of the Republic of Kazakhstan and MECMA's Orchestra-in-Residence, along with soloist Nikita Zimin, one of the most remarkable representatives of the academic saxophone school under the baton of Mikhail Kirchhoff, principal conductor of the Kaliningrad Music Theatre, Eurasian Stars festival and Ak Ertis festival. MECMA also offered a unique opportunity to the most skilled academy students, with a number of them being hand-picked by professors and invited to take to the stage side-by-side with these professional musicians.
The academy students in attendance responded well to the day's events, with many praising the activities that took place. One in particular said, ''This project gives us the opportunity to collaborate with talented musicians from around the world. I would really recommend MECMA to everyone because it provides young musicians like me with unbelievably valuable experiences and knowledge.''
For the participants of MECMA, each day brings new challenges and greater growth, and today was no exception. Tomorrow presents another action-packed programme, allowing young artists to engage in an exciting array of masterclasses, lectures, seminars, and daily concerts.
For regular updates about MECMA and its daily offerings, visit our official website for the latest news.
