Key point
- What is AAI?
- Projects during the pandemic
- future projects
Nora Betyousef Lacey is the founder and chair of the executive committee of the Institute. She says that the aims and objectives of their organisation are to share and highlight Assyrian art to non-Assyrian communities. This is just one of the ways that she hopes to increase awareness about our people.
Mrs Lacey says the institute had many plans and projects for 2020. Unfortunately, due to lockdowns and social distancing, most of the concert were cancelled. The main event for 2020 was a concert for men.
Many Assyrian male artists and singers from around the world were invited and all venues booked, ready for the concert. But the sudden lockdown made it impossible for the events to take place.
Founder of AAI; Nora Lacey Source: Supplied
The President of the Assyrian Arts Institutes says, the lockdown did not stop us from continuing. She says the AAI managed to organise a choir who performed a special hymn from the Assyrian Church of the East. The project involved a dozen of singers from Ukraine, Australia, Canada, and many US states. Each performer recorded their voice in their country, according to instructions from Choir conductor, Dr. Charlene Archibeque, a profound international conductor. The footage from each country and US states were put together and the song was produced and podcast online.
"During the coronavirus lockdown, with the help of technology, we managed to complete some projects"
Online Choir Source: AAI.jpg
Nora Lacey
In regard to future project, Mrs Lacey talked about forming a children ensemble or a choir to sing Assyrian songs. They will be trained under professional singing coaches and, depending on COVID-19 situation and the easing of restrictions, they will perform in a concert hall.
Omar Bashir Source: AAI .jpg
There is a plan to produce a concert, directed by Assyrian musician Omar Bashir, a world known Oud player, which will include Assyrian melodies, performed by an orchestra that includes Middle Eastern instruments, such as Duduk, Oud, Qanoon and more. They will be played by professional Assyrian musicians, who are regarded to be some of the finest players in the world.
Full interview can be watched on this link
COVID-19 Vaccine:
On 13 November 2020 the National Cabinet endorsed the Australian COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, which sets out the roles and responsibilities of the Commonwealth, states and territories in rolling out COVID-19 vaccination, that secured access to 134.8 million doses of four leading vaccine candidates.
