Qantara Berklee Ensemble and the Near Eastern Music Ensemble.

Qantara Berklee Ensemble and the Near Eastern Music Ensemble share a concert exploring musical traditions across the Middle East, the Mediterranean, jazz, classical music, and Latin America. The program features original works by Qantara’s director and students alongside traditional pieces presented in fresh arrangements.

Qantara, whose name means “arch,” emphasizes cross-cultural fusion and improvisation, including free-form, metrical, and trading approaches shaped by harmonic and modal changes. The Near Eastern Music Ensemble performs music connected to Turkish, Egyptian, Greek, North African, and Andalusian traditions, with a focus on spontaneous improvisation using both standard and microtonal modes.

When: Tuesday, December 8, 2026

Showtime: 7:00 p.m. EST

Venue: Berk Recital Hall (1A), Boston Conservatory / Berklee, 1140 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215

Lineup: Qantara Berklee Ensemble and the Near Eastern Music Ensemble

Program: Qantara performs original compositions by its director and students, as well as traditional music from multiple styles in newly arranged forms. The ensemble combines world jazz, Middle Eastern, Western classical, and Latin American influences. The Near Eastern Music Ensemble’s repertoire spans Mediterranean musical cultures, including Turkish, Egyptian, Greek, North African, and Andalusian music.

Improvisation: Both ensembles incorporate improvisation. Qantara explores free-form, metrical, and trading techniques across harmonic and modal frameworks, while the Near Eastern Music Ensemble works with regular and microtonal modes.

Tickets: Free