Mission
The Syrian Music Preservation Initiative promotes and celebrates the diverse ethnic and regional musical traditions of Syria through preservation, innovation, research, and education. Its activities include music and dance performances, classes, workshops, and seminars, as well as digital resources and recordings.
Our Story
The Syrian Music Preservation Initiative is dedicated to preserving and invigorating the diverse ethnic and regional music traditions of Syria (including but not limited to Arabic, Kurdish, Armenian and Syriac). Our performances promote the musical heritage of this region by presenting older works that are less known to the greater public as well as supporting contemporary exploration of the traditional forms by commissioning composers from Syria and the diaspora. In this way, we celebrate the past, present and future of Syrian music.
We strive to preserve the Syrian compositional practices by researching their history and context, translating lyrics, providing transcriptions, documenting our performances, and—most importantly by making our digital resources accessible to artists, scholars, and communities worldwide.
Who We Are
Samer Ali
Founder and Artistic Director
A native of Syria, Samer Ali is a physician, violinist, oudist, composer, and founder and artistic director of the Syrian Music Preservation Initiative.
He has led Takht al-Nagham, SMPI’s Arab chamber music ensemble, in New York at Roulette Intermedium; Florida at Miami Beach Bandshell; and Washington, DC at Kennedy Center.
Samer began studying western classical violin at the age of eight with Fawaz al-Ali and Ali Farran and later pursued intensive conservatory studies with Ali Mukhtar Babayev.
An apprentice of Muhammad Qadri Dalal, the oud virtuoso, musicologist and prolific scholar of Arab maqam musical system and traditional music of Syria, Samer also studied the Arab classical violin with Simon Shaheen and Anwar Hariri.
He co-founded Awj ensemble in Damascus, and has continued to perform in the US with groups like the Orchestra of the Bronx and the National Arab Orchestra.
In medicine, Samer received his M.D. from Syria and is currently an Attending Pathologist and Assistant Professor at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, New York.
Marissa Arciola
President
Marissa is a bassist, strategist and leader with a unique combination of artistic and business experience helping her build on founder Samer Ali’s vision of the SMPI.
Marissa completed her undergraduate degree in double bass performance at the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of renowned soloist, James VanDemark and Curtis Buris. Marissa continued with music while completing her MBA and MA in Arts Administration at SMU.
After her studies, Marissa has worked with a number of nonprofit organizations while playing with groups ranging from classical, rock, and Middle Eastern music.
As President of the SMPI board, and member of Takht al-Nagham, Marissa helps to move the organization forward both programmatically and financially, by putting a focus on the digital initiatives, prioritizing projects and growing donation and fundraising prospects.
Hanna Madbak
Legal Counsel
Hanna Madbak grew up in Beirut, Lebanon. From an early age, he was immersed in the music of the region and developed a deep appreciation of it. Hanna is an avid listener and student of Arabic music and studied oud with the late Director of the Lebanese Conservatory, Bassam Saba. Hanna is a practicing attorney in New York and serves as SMPI’s legal advisor as well as being a member of the Board.
Homam Ibrahim
Board Member
Homam Ibrahim was born in Latakia, Syria and began studying violin at the age of 10 with Bassam Yusuf. While playing with the Music Club of Latakia for many years, he developed a passion and an ear for music. In 2008, Homam came to the United States to pursue his medical training and he currently practices interventional cardiology at NYU. Homam feels strongly that preserving the history and tradition of Syrian music is important and sits on the board of SMPI to help move the many performance, research and education initiatives forward with planning and support.