MUSIC AND PROJECTION: The first event in the annual Princeton University Concerts series will feature Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh, performing against a background by visual artist Kevork Mourad, in “Home Within,” focusing in Syria’s history. (Photo by Piotr Poloczanski)

The Princeton University Concerts (PUC) 2024-25 Season will open on Thursday, September 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium with the first event of the “Healing with Music” series. Making their PUC debuts, Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh and visual artist Kevork Mourad will present Home Within, their production featuring original music by the clarinetist and live projected illustration depicting specific moments in Syria’s recent history.

They will also be joined by moderator Deborah Amos, international correspondent for National Public Radio and a Princeton University professor in Journalism, to discuss their work and war’s impact on our sense of “home.” Created in 2012 with the intention of raising awareness for Syrian refugees, Home Within has been performed across the world for over a decade as the conflict persists. Tickets are $25 general/$10 student.

PUC has partnered with the Princeton Public Library and the Princeton Garden Theatre to offer free book group discussions and a documentary screening related to this event. The library will host discussions of Aeham Ahmad’s memoir A Pianist from Syria on Wednesday, August 28 both in person and over Zoom, culminating in a virtual keynote talk with Amos on Wednesday, September 4 at 7 p.m. These book discussions are free, and registration is required. On Wednesday, September 25 at 7 p.m., the theater will screen the Grammy-nominated documentary The Music of Strangers directed by Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville, which follows members of the Silk Road Ensemble, including Azmeh and Mourad. For registration and tickets, visit puc.princeton.edu.

“For the upcoming third season of the Healing with Music series, we are shifting our focus from the many ways in which music can play a role through medical challenges to musicians who use their art and platforms to engage in civic discussion and respond to world events which have touched them in profoundly personal ways,” said PUC Outreach Manager Dasha Koltunyuk. “Kinan Azmeh and Kevork Mourad are powerfully talented artists who have channeled their immense creativity into a sincere, sustained commitment to the plight of victims of the Syrian revolution. They use image and sound to establish a sense of sustained urgency and continued hope for both their homeland and communities around the world. Their point of view reflects a deep belief that art can promote understanding.”

“Home Within is an incredibly compelling audio-visual production with a beautiful mission,” said PUC Director Marna Seltzer. “There’s something in it for lovers of classical music, world music, visual art, performance art — or simply for anyone who cares about what is happening in our world. This event also incorporates the bonus of a deep-dive discussion with the artists. We are exceptionally fortunate to have Deborah Amos as moderator for this and for all our 2024-25 season Healing with Music events. She is a wonderful, insightful interviewer who is well-poised to facilitate these important, sensitive discussions.”
For tickets and more information, visit puc.princeton.edu.