Fes Festival of World Sacred Music Panel: A Vision for Peace
Monday, April 5, 2004

IDSA presented a panel at the Central Presbyterian Church on the impact of sacred world music on world peace in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin Performing Arts Center, Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, Morocco and Columbia Artists Management, USA, and the Institute of Interfaith Dialog (IID). Following the panel a reception was given for the musicians and participants.

The panel, "In the Spirit of Fes: A Vision for Peace", is inspired by those held annually in Fes (Morrocco) and designed to engage multi-disciplinary speakers, some of whom have participated in the Fes Colloquium, to exchange ideas and experiences with members of local communities and institutions where the tour is presented. The panels intend to expand upon discussions begun in Fes to encourage active reflection on today's most pressing issues to create a current of activity towards global citizenship. The panel took place in the Sanctuary and the reception followed in the Fellowship Hall. Opening remarks were made by Cynthia Patterson, program manager, University of Texas Performing Arts Center.

Panel Participants:

-Terrance Grace, (moderator) Director, Jungli Billi Productions; Director, The Spirit of Fes on Tour. Terrance has been working in film and television for over fifteen years. He writes, directs, photographs and designs sound, and his dramatic film work has been the recipient of numerous awards particularly for Mr. Ahmed, which has been called an enigmatic masterpiece. His documentary work includes the award-winning film "Born Again Primitive", an intimate portrayal of Russell Means, the American Indian Movement leader and activist and Indigo, a 6-part series for the Travel and Discovery Channels. Recently, Terrance's love of music led to development of several films including one on the life of jazz pianist Randy Weston and a series named The Wandering Minstrels. His recently completed film Sawt-e-Sarmad: The Sound that Intoxicates Man, will accompany the Spirit of Fes tour.

-Mieke Maria Curtis, PhD Candidate, Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin; The Institute of Interfaith Dialog, Founding Member. Maria has lived in Morocco and conducted MA research on Northern Moroccan womens venerative traditions, particularly a style of poetry called Ayoua, which is often recited in remembrance of local saints. Her dissertation is on the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music. She spent a year in Fes conducting ethnographic research and volunteering for the Fes Festival. As a member of IID, she has been involved in organizing programs that bring people of different backgrounds together in the spirit of learning and tolerance.

- David Lynch, music writer (freelance and Austin Chronicle), and musician; Has interviewed Ravi Shankar, Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, and Youssou N'Dour, among others. Has performed original music live on television, radio and stage. Records and produces albums by musicians of various styles. Composes film soundtracks, including the film "Whispers" by Moroccan filmmaker Hakim Belabbes. Did his anthropology of music graduate work on the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, and was a commentator on "Sacred Sounds," the award-winning documentary of the Fes Festival.

-Dr. Guner Arslan, Institute of Interfaith Dialog, Founding Member. Has taken part in bringing the Whirling Dervishes of Konya and music of the Turkish Sufi tradition to Austin. He contributed to the Preventing Another September 11th conference held in Austin in 2002. He is currently representing the Institute in the organizing committee of the Austin InterFaith Arts Festival to take place in October in Austin.

- Yacoub Hussein, Currently touring with the Spirit of Fes. Yacoub is the son of revered Sufi Sheikh Abu Salech el Refai who represents the Refai Sufi Order of Palestine. He has been schooled in the Islamic mystical tradition's recitations of sacred texts. He is deeply committed to peace building work and frequently collaborates with artists from varied spiritual traditions, especially those from the Jewish faith. Yacoub and his father toured the U.S. to promote peace through song and prayer in churches, mosques and synagogues. Yacoub participated in The Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders at the United Nations in 2000.

-Maria Jackson, Currently touring with the Spirit of Fes; Representing the American Gospel tradition, the Anointed Jackson Sisters, were founded by the late Evangelist Bertha Jackson. A native of North Carolina, Maria belongs to a family that is steeped in traditional Gospel and is the daughter of Pastor Carlton Jackson, Senior. The Anointed Jackson Sisters have performed in many festivals on the traditional Gospel circuits including the famous Bobby Jones Gospel Explosion and the New Orleans Jazz Heritage Festival in 2001 and 2002. They remain one of the highlights of the New Orleans Festival's Gospel programs and were immensely popular at the 2003 Fes Festival. In addition to singing, Maria serves as a minister at the church founded by her mother, and is involved in church counseling.

-Francoise Atlan, Currently touring with the Spirit of Fes. Franoise is Algerian Jewish in origin, and is considered one of the most beautiful voices of the Mediterranean region. She is the recipient of numerous awards including, the Prix de la Villa Mdicis Hors les Murs, Grand Prix de l'Acadmie Charles Cros, Diapason d'Or, and Choc du Monde de la Musique for her work from the Sephardic Jewish tradition of North Africa, ancient troubadour laments and Arab-Andalusia compositions. Her performances at the Fes Festival in Morocco were received with great enthusiasm where performed as a soloist with the Arab-Andalusian orchestra of Mohamed Briouel. In September of 2003, she debuted in the U.S. at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall.

-Rev. Greg McDonell, has been serving as Pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church since January of 1997. He previously served a congregation in Houston, Texas for sixteen years. Gregs undergraduate degree was issued from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas with a BA in Psychology. He graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in May of 1981 with a Masters in Divinity. His involvement in Austin Area Interreligious Ministries (AAIM), as a Past President of its Board, has awakened within him a desire to see peace and justice prevail in the lives of all Gods children. It has been his dream to offer to the citizens of Austin an Interfaith Arts Festival, which will take place on Oct. 9th of 2004.