The Story of Mashrek
Mashrek International School was established in 1992. It is a private, bilingual, coeducational IB World School accredited by the CIS. Mashrek offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) for grades 11 and 12; the Middle Years Programme (IBMYP) for grades 6 to 10 and the Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) for Pre-KG to grade 5. The school was founded with an enrolment of 172 students in a small campus and now has 1500 students representing more than 26 nationalities in a large campus and tremendous facilities located in Dabouq outside the city of Amman.
‘MAM’–A DREAM COMING
The ‘MAM’ project began when Mashrek’s former student, Iyad Sughayer, revisited the school and pondered why young musicians and artists had to leave Jordan to pursue their education elsewhere, lacking a specialized musical environment and resources. The vision was to establish a leading music department within one of Jordan’s most esteemed educational institutions, Mashrek International School, where Sughayer had studied. Drawing inspiration from Mashrek’s commitment to unlocking every student’s potential, the dream of ‘MAM’ materialized, focusing on identifying and nurturing students’ musical abilities.
Mission, Vision And Aims
Mission
MAM’s mission is to provide the highest quality of musical education and training in Jordan. Through performance and academic studies, we aim to discover and nurture students’ musical talents to cultivate a new generation of creators and musicians who will lead and promote a thriving and professional musical culture within the local community in Jordan and beyond.
Vision
Our vision is to create a world-class music academy distinguished across the region, where musicians will develop and nurture their creativity and musical careers.
Aims
- To deliver a world-class music education and training in both performance and academic studies
- To inspire a passion and understanding of music and to build a firm foundation for artistic development.
- To cultivate and cherish the individual talent and creativity of all students.
- To provide access to key performance opportunities and nurture future careers in the arts.
- To create a supportive community of musicians, encouraging team spirit and teamwork across all aspects of musical education and training.
- To foster a school that is creative, compassionate, and encouraging which promotes equality and inclusion.
Faculty
Iyad Sughayer
Director of Music
Chosen as ‘One to Watch’ by International Piano Magazine, Iyad’s debut album – Khachaturian Piano Works for BIS Records was released in November 2019 to critical acclaim. The album was described by Gramophone as ‘exhilarating and delivered with perfect clarity’ and ‘an outstanding debut’ by BBC Music Magazine.
As soloist Iyad has appeared with leading orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, European Union Chamber Orchestra, the Cairo and Amman Symphony Orchestras. He has given recitals at Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall & Stoller Hall in Manchester (broadcast by BBC Radio 3), the Laeiszhalle (Hamburg), Festival Musique D’Abord (France), Steinway Hall (New York) and Castleton Festival (Virginia), among many others.
Born in Amman, Iyad completed his International Artist Diploma at the Royal Northern College of Music in 2019. He was made an Associate of the RNCM in 2021.
Abdel Hadi Jaafar
Violin Tutor
Abdelhadi Jafar, an accomplished violinist and educator hailing from Amman, specializes in both Classical and Arabic music. He holds a Master’s Degree in Violin Performance from the University of Jordan as well as many other qualifications from international examination boards. Abdelhadi’s experience includes teaching positions at reputable institutions including the University of Jordan, The National Orthodox School, Rawdat Al-Ma’aref Schools and College, and Terra Sancta College. In 2022, he became a faculty member at the Mashrek Academy of Music.
As a performer, Abdelhadi performed with many orchestras and ensembles including the Jordan National Orchestra and the Etihad Chamber Orchestra. On the international stage, he has represented Jordan at esteemed cultural events including the Saluzzo Opera Academy in Italy, the Ravenna Festival, and the Al Qala’a Festival in Cairo. Collaborating with acclaimed musicians and conductors such as Riccardo Muti.
Luiza Abazyan
Piano Tutor
Luiza is a professional piano teacher, with more than 10 years teaching experience.
‘Music has always been my passion. It started very early on in my childhood. Learning it at an early age gave me an understanding how it feels and what it takes to learn how to play this beautiful instrument.’.
Paul Youngs
Percussion Tutor
Paul is a drummer and percussionist from the UK, Paul obtained his Bachelor of Music degree at the Academy of Contemporary Music, Guildford. He worked as a performing musician and tutor, playing at venues around the UK and teaching in schools. He passed his Rockschool Grade 8 Drums exam with distinction in 2011, and ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory with distinction in 2014. As a tutor he has experience of preparing his own students for exams up to and including Grade 8. As a performer, Paul has recorded in studios including Metropolis Studios (London), the BBC’s Maida Vale (London), and has made an appearance on the BBC’s ‘The One Show’. In 2013, he was a finalist for the UK Young Drummer of the Year competition. Paul is an enthusiastic teacher, who aims to encourage a love of music and a pursuit of excellence in all his pupils..
Admissions
MAM welcomes students aged 5 and above with or without prior musical experience and is open to students from and outside the Mashrek International School community.
Follow the link below for full details.