Arabic Music Retreat

We are devastated to report that one of our leading faculty members, nay and flute virtuoso Bassam Saba, passed away on December 4, 2020 from COVID-19 complications. Bassam was a founding faculty member of the Arabic Music Retreat. His passing Read More …

Laura Shaheen, known to her family and friends as Lulu, left us and this world on August 12th, 2020. Born in Palestine to a family with a deep love of music, Lulu was the sister of Rosette Shaheen and brothers Read More …

On April 20, 2020, our lead percussion teacher, Michel Merhej, passed away from Covid-19. Mr. Merhej was a founding faculty member of the Arabic Music Retreat, and taught at every Retreat since 1997. He was a beloved member of our Read More …

Film director Tarik Benbrahim created a film featuring Simon Shaheen, his work and life in the United States. It features the Arabic Music Retreat, footage filmed at the 2018 Retreat at Mount Holyoke College. Here is a link to the Read More …

Film-maker Alejandro Cisneros made this film about the Retreat in 2015. It was produced in conjunction with fundraising for our scholarship fund. It gives a great view of what the program is like at the Retreat as well as the Read More …