Music

The art of crafting and arranging harmonious sounds and melodies to convey emotions, narrate stories, and evoke profound sensations in the listener. Submissions are welcome in Arabic, English, or a combination of both languages. Entries should not exceed a maximum length of 2 minutes. Please note that we accept only video recordings to preserve the authenticity of the submission. Additionally, to align with website capabilities, video files should be under 10MB in size

Judging Criteria

Technical Proficiency:

Instrumental/Vocal Mastery: How well does the performer play their instrument and/or use their voice? Are they in tune, and do they exhibit an elevated level of skill?
Rhythm and Timing: Does the student maintain steady rhythm and timing throughout the performance?
Complexity: Has the student attempted challenging pieces or sections, and have they executed them well?

Authenticity and Interpretation:

Understanding of the Genre: Does the performance stay true to the Middle Eastern musical traditions? Do they exhibit knowledge of the genre’s scales, modes, and rhythms?
Emotion and Expressiveness: Does the performer convey the emotions of the piece effectively? Do they connect with the audience?
Improvisation (Taqsim): Middle Eastern music often includes sections of improvisation. How well does the presenter incorporate and perform these sections?

Originality and Creativity:

Arrangement: If the performer has created a unique arrangement of a traditional piece, how effective and innovative is it?
Composition: If the performer has composed their own piece, does it show originality while still reflecting Middle Eastern musical elements?
Fusion: If the performer has merged Middle Eastern music with another genre, is the fusion seamless and does it respect the origins?

Presentation:

Stage Presence: How confident and engaging is the performer recording? Do they connect with the audience?
Dress Code: Is the performer dressed appropriately for the performance (if it is a video presentation), reflecting the tradition or the fusion they are going for?
Collaboration: If the performance includes collaboration with other artists or instruments, how well do they synchronize and harmonize?

Impact:

Engagement: can the performance captivate the audience? Were they responsive (from the listening committee)?
Feedback: This can be collected via audience/ committee voting or comments after the performance.
Relevance: Was the piece or performance relevant to the current cultural or societal context?