Nitsch, as well as the McMahons, Carolyn and Sam ’54, who funded his original full scholarship to Queens and have now established the two-year residency with a $100,000 expendable gift. For a sense of mission about what they hope and plan for this residency to accomplish, Jandali looks to the university’s motto—non ministrari sed ministrare, “not to be served, but to serve.” “With the right leadership, this gives you
the responsibility of service—service through the transformative power of knowledge and the search for truth and beauty through the arts,” Jandali said, adding that the word “symphony” means bringing together. “Music gives me a platform to connect, and it also gives me a strength to confront our world as it is. Tis is the soft power of art, and even though it’s soft, it’s transformative.” He and the McMahons want to expand what
As a student at Queens, Malek Jandali got to know Carolyn and Sam McMahon. Since then, the McMahons have supported Jandali as he became a globally acclaimed pianist and composer.
“If I had gone to Juilliard, I would’ve gotten a music education, but I would never have discussed world views with other students and professors.”
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such a residency can mean, as Jandali’s residency will encompass workshops and lectures in not only the university music program but also a variety of other academic areas. Carolyn, a former piano teacher, is especially thrilled at the civic engagement prospects for the residency, introducing schoolchildren to the deeper wonders of music. Tat hallmark is exemplified in the very name of the school’s new Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts and Civic Engagement, which houses the Carolyn G. McMahon Center for Music. “At this particular time, it’s very good to have that in place, because so many of our programs in the schools in music and the arts have been cut,” she said. “We’re both very grateful that we’ve had the opportunity to support Malek and help get him to this position, and we have a lot of faith in what he’s going to bring to it.” “Malek was just another student at Queens
trying to get ahead and be where he wanted to be,” added Sam, “and I think he’s there.” Te centerpiece of Jandali’s work as composer
in residence will be the creation of major symphonic works commissioned by Queens, with the goal to engage the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra for world premiere performances. Also, front and center will be Jandali’s nonprofit organization, Pianos for Peace, which works to achieve peace and promote philanthropy through art, music and education. Plans include the possibility of bringing a chapter of the annual Pianos Peace festival to Charlotte. In Atlanta, year-round
for
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