On August 2nd, members of Fordson’s choirs joined Choir Director, Matt Laura, at the Michigan School Vocal Music Association Summer Workshop in Lansing. They led a session entitled “Beyond the Canon: Programming Arab Music.”  The purpose of the session was to demystify and highlight Arab musical and cultural inclusion in a choral program.

Director Laura and students collaborated with Michael Ibrahim, the founder and director of the National Arab Orchestra, to introduce Arab music and culture.   Students even taught a song to the music teachers in attendance.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive; the students were treated like celebrities;  and were praised for “trailblazing” a new music connection.   Above all else, they laid the groundwork for collaborations with high schools and universities throughout Michigan.  Shared by Matt Laura