Neither arms nor diplomacy has achieved peace in the Middle East, but ten years ago an Israeli-born Philadelphia Orchestra cellist became convinced that music might help further the prospects for people in conflict learning to live in harmony.
And so, having interacted personally and artistically with Arab, Jewish, and Buddhist musicians, Udi Bar-David became the founder, president, and artistic director of Intercultural Journeys, a non-profit organization based in Philadelphia committed to presenting performances, master classes, lectures, and other opportunities for musical dialogue and understanding among a variety of cultural traditions.
In the years since the group was founded, with strong support from Carole Haas Gravagno, a local activist and philanthropist, the ensemble has performed and recorded not only with musicians of Middle Eastern origin but also with those from the Native American, African American, and Asian traditions among others.
Now, as Intercultural Journeys embarks on its 10th season, Jim Cotter speaks with Udi Barr-David about what his group has achieved and how it has changed him.