WMI Plus At Home - Wanees Zarour and Firas Zreik

The final WMI Plus at Home session for the 2025-26 season featured a discussion with Palestinian-American composer and multi-instrumentalist Wanees Zarour and artist-composer, lyricist, and kanunist Firas Zreik. They explored Palestinian musical traditions, creative identity, and the connections between Arabic maqam, jazz, memory, and migration. Wanees shared his journey from studying violin at the Edward Said Conservatory to becoming an award-winning composer and musician. He is the Director of the Middle East Music Ensemble at the University of Chicago and Co-Director of the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra, along with Fareed Haque. He introduced his album "Silwan", inspired by Palestinian neighborhoods and personal memories. The session also emphasized Wanees’s work in merging Arabic maqam with jazz through his East Loop Collective, while highlighting the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra's mission to celebrate cultural heritage through music. Learn more about Wanees Zarour: https://waneeszarour.com Learn more about Firas Zreik: https://www.firaszreik.com