15 April - Ninth Day of MECMA
A life-changing experience providing musical training that students can only dream of, The Middle East Classical Music Academy (MECMA), taking place from 6 April until the 21st of the month, offers a supportive environment dedicated to musical discovery, allowing young musicians to learn from distinguished professors, explore a wide range of repertoire and make important professional connections within an international community of musicians.
With just under a week to go, participants continued to make the most of every opportunity through rehearsals, masterclasses, real-time performance preparation, and live concerts held at the stunning Two Seasons Hotel and the grand Jumeirah Zabeel Saray in Dubai.
On Tuesday, 15 April 2025, MECMA provided a meticulously curated immersion into music education at its highest level. Individual masterclasses were in full swing from 11:35 am as Room 1 Dalia and Room 2 Dania on the 6th floor echoed with the sounds of violin, piano, saxophone and more. These lessons were led by renowned professors: Nikita Boriso-Glebsky, soloist of the Moscow Philharmonic Society and winner of several international music contests; Alan Chircop (Malta), a leading conductor of over thirty-five international orchestras in various theatres, concert halls and festivals in twenty different countries; Cordelia Höfer-Teutsch (Austria), a professor for piano and chamber music at the University Mozarteum; and Pablo Hernández Carrasco, Solo Horn of the Franz Schubert Filharmonia. Additionally, acclaimed Neapolitan violinist Riccardo Zamuner (Italy) taught students in Room 3 Sapphire on the 5th floor, using a seamless blend of education and artistic expression.
After a particularly demanding masterclass, Nikita Boriso-Glebsky expressed, ''In my masterclass, we had a lot of technical and practical discussions. I noticed a genuine enthusiasm in the eyes of the students, pupils, and kids, who came from different parts of the world, which reminded me of my own experiences in summer courses and schools when I was young,'' he continued, ''I think MECMA is great because it always offers enriching experiences. Not only do you learn from instructors, but you also have the chance to connect with fellow music lovers and exchange sentiments, helping to form lifelong friendships. Additionally, students are encouraged and inspired to attend concerts here, which is wonderful. Many talented artists come to perform, and it’s not often that these young talents have the opportunity to listen to such music in their daily lives.''
Orchestral masterclasses were also held as usual on the 40th floor in the Sky Zayed Room, conducted by Raisa Musahadzhaeva, and in the Emerald Room on the 5th floor by the Kurmangazy Symphony and MECMA Symphony. After these sessions, the participants shifted to Zabeel Hall for general rehearsals led by professors Kuldzhanova Aijan, Yana Kasiyan and Birzhan Uteliev, followed by a spectacular concert featuring performances by the same three professors.
A beautifully curated daytime concert also took place, featuring the acclaimed Kazakh State Symphony Orchestra, MECMA’s Orchestra-in-Residence and one of Kazakhstan’s most celebrated ensembles. The performance featured the silver medalist of the 2015 Tchaikovsky Competition and one of the most sought-after cellists of his generation, soloist Alexander Ramm, under the baton of Mikhail Kirchhoff, principal conductor of the Kaliningrad Music Theatre, Eurasian Stars festival and Ak Ertis festival and select academy students.
Following the day's exhilarating events, an audience member remarked, ''I've had a wonderful experience and would really recommend this academy to other young people and musicians. The professors offer a wealth of advice that will definitely help them become professional musicians in the future."
As always, the day combined hard work with inspiration, adhering to the hallmark of the MECMA experience: giving young musicians access to real-world training, world-class mentorship, and a platform to grow among their peers.
