Musical Bridges Around the World Presents 7th Annual International Music Festival Virtually on April 21

This year’s virtual International Music Festival will explore the state of the arts and future of performing arts from noon to 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 21. Audiences can participate at www.mbaw.org/imf and MBAW’s YouTube channel.

“Reflect, Reset and Revive!” is the theme of the 2021 music festival, which also offers live panel discussions from prominent artists and arts leaders, as well as performances from MBAW’s illustrious past program and festival artists. 

Although admission is free, viewers are encouraged to secure a ticket and enter the raffle at https://imf-2021.eventbrite.com.

The roster of international musical artists includes:

• Barynya, music and dance troupe; Russia
• Mark Cheikhet, violin; Russia
• Valery Grokhovski, piano; Russia
• Jiale Li, piano and Gurwitz 2020 gold medalist; China
• Nikolaas Kende, piano, and Jolente De Maeyer, violin; Belgium
• Kevork Mourad, visual artist; Syria
• Kinan Azmeh, clarinet; Syria
• JP Jofre, bandoneon; Argentina
• EntreFlamenco, music and dance company; Spain
• Mane Galoyan, soprano; Armenia
• Oliver Rajamani, guitar and percussion; India

Participants are invited to engage artists and thought leaders about the arts during two panel discussions titled “Arts Leadership in a Pandemic Era Resilience and Vision for the Future” and “Artists - Survival & Revival!”

In a special panel discussion titled “Stories with Superwomen,” we’ll hear stories and anecdotes from a few superwomen and undoubtedly share laughter and tears as we explore epic fails and successes of homeschooling, maintaining careers and some semblance of sanity while sheltering in place and what it has taught us about our world. You are invited to share your challenges, best practices and how you’ve coped, adapted and continue to thrive.   

Moderators and panelists include Suhail Arastu, Global Arts Envoy of Sister Cities International & Advancement with Musical Bridges Around the World; Sunil Iyengar, director of Research & Analysis for National Endowment for the Arts; Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, chairman of Ford Foundation Board of Trustees; Afa Dworkin, president and artistic director of the Sphinx Organization; Sebastian Lang-Lessing, conductor and music director emeritus of San Antonio Symphony; Mane Galoyan, Armenian soprano; and Mei Rui, DMA, concert pianist and assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine and Houston Methodist; Cristina Pato, composer and bagpiper; Diana Osborne, MBAW grants manager; Nicole Randall, senior vice president of People to People International; Claudia Hucks, customer engagement management at NTT Data Services; and Adriana Flores, vice president of Alamo Music Center and MBAW board member.

The festival will close with a Japanese-themed Kids to Concerts program titled, “Journey to Japan,” featuring Kaoru Watanabe, taiko drum and shinobi flute, and Yoko Reikano Kimura, shamisen and koto. The concert is part of a Kids to Concerts program that will be presented at 200 area schools this April.

Sponsors of the International Music Festival are National Endowment of the Arts, as well as operational sponsors: City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture, Texas Commission on the Arts, Brown Foundation, Ford Foundation and Kronkosky Charitable Foundation.