Music in Motion: a vibrant celebration of interdisciplinary collaboration between the Arts programmes.

Co-organized by Prof. Karène Sanchez-Summerer (Department of Middle Eastern Studies, ICOG, RUG), Music that Matters, Burcu Yasin (Concordia University), and Vera Groningen, the event bring together scholars, artists, and the public to explore the intersection of music and migration in today’s world.

21 January 2026, “1932: The Arab World’s Fair of Music” 

15:30–17:00, CHS, 1312.025  

Drawing on Prof. Stokes ‘1932 Project’, this talk revisits the landmark International Congress of Arab Music held in Cairo in 1932. Prof. M. Stokes will examine how this extraordinary gathering of musicians, scholars, and policymakers sought to define a modern Arab musical heritage amid colonial and nationalist tensions, and how its debates continue to resonate in contemporary Middle Eastern musical life.

22 January 2026, “Music, Mobility and Citizenship” 

16:00–17:30, VERA 

Building on his recent book Music and Citizenship (Oxford University Press, 2023), this talk explores how music-making and listening foster new forms of civic belonging. Prof. Stokes argues that musical encounters (whether in concert halls, along migration routes, or in digital spaces) offer ways to reimagine citizenship beyond the nation-state, underscoring the political and ethical dimensions of sound in a world on the move. 

The evening will culminate in a captivating live performance by the Dareyn Ensemble, blending Turkish maqam music with contemporary soundscapes, and curated by Dr. Mayada Madbouly (Department of Middle Eastern Studies), who will also served as the pre- and post-concert DJ.

"Music in Motion" highlights how cultural practices like music serve as vital tools for connection, resilience, and cross-cultural dialogue—especially in a world marked by displacement. The event is a testament to the power of collaboration between our university’s Middle East Studies and Music Matters programmes, as well as our international partners