Reem Kelani

“Palestinian singer Reem Kelani was a new name in my world, but the woman was so endearing I'll never forget her.” Gary Bannister, Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, Seattle

“We enjoyed (your concert) immensely. You were sensational. As a singer-communicator you are in a class of your own. There are not many performers singing in a language many in the audience don't understand who can hold the attention as you did. Your backing musicians were excellent, also. So congratulations all round”. Leon Rosselson

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“Palestinian singer Reem Kelani was a new name in my world, but the woman was so endearing I'll never forget her.” Gary Bannister, Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, Seattle

“We enjoyed (your concert) immensely. You were sensational. As a singer-communicator you are in a class of your own. There are not many performers singing in a language many in the audience don't understand who can hold the attention as you did. Your backing musicians were excellent, also. So congratulations all round”. Leon Rosselson

“I thought, there she is, Reem Kelani, pouring every milligram of her being into this performance, her audience rapt, transported before her, and there's this precious, non- violent force transmuting a mouthful of air into articulate energy, an energy that evokes sympathetic vibrations through whole communities, giving hope and strength, lifting human spirits from out of their dark times.” Brian Robinson, Musicweaver

“When she told me earlier that she did not see any difference between jazz and Arabic music, it sounded a stretch; here, for a moment, the two spin together so fast they sound like one.” David Honigmann, Financial Times

“Kelani is more than a musician: she’s a teacher, a scholar and a broadcaster. She is also a force of nature, reminiscent in some ways of the Argentinian great Mercedes Sosa.” Mahir Ali, The Australian

"Rarely has the entire tragedy of a people been condensed into artful melodrama by such a powerful and stirring voice. Her range extends from the deepest lows to the brightest highs, in between which she launches herself unselfconsciously into unending notes, enriching melodies with slides and glissandos." Norbert Krampf, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

"She doesn’t sing the music, but lives it with her whole body and soul. The sheer emotional power of it hits you right in the solar plexus, but it’s totally controlled – she can switch instantly from anger to laughter, from grief to celebration." Roger van Schaick, Oxford Times

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Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

London

Credentials/Background

Reem is a highly experienced and inspirational workshop leader in Arabic and Palestinian singing. Group teaching only.

Reem works with adults and children, and she has introduced many to Arabic music and singing. Indeed, Reem has developed her own course outline for Arabic music and singing, for use in schools and with community choirs in the UK. Her workshops have variously included one-off inputs, structured programmes over a school year involving teachers and pupils, and short, intensive sessions over several days or weeks preparing students to present their own performance of songs she has taught them.

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Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

London

Credentials/Background

Reem is a highly experienced and inspirational workshop leader in Arabic and Palestinian singing. Group teaching only.

Reem works with adults and children, and she has introduced many to Arabic music and singing. Indeed, Reem has developed her own course outline for Arabic music and singing, for use in schools and with community choirs in the UK. Her workshops have variously included one-off inputs, structured programmes over a school year involving teachers and pupils, and short, intensive sessions over several days or weeks preparing students to present their own performance of songs she has taught them.

Her work has included:

- Workshops in Arabic singing and performance with the Sacred Sounds Women’s Interfaith Choir, Manchester (Dec 2014-Jan 2015);

- a structured programme of workshops in 3 new schools in Calderdale under the auspices of Calderdale Music Hub and leading to a performance of Arabic songs by the children in front of parents, teachers and other children (Oct 2013);

- workshops and presentations at Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle (May 2013), the Shanghai Conservatory of Music (May 2011) and Goldsmiths College, London (2004, 2005 & 2011);

- a week of workshops in 3 primary schools in Halifax and Hebden Bridge, leading to a performance of Palestinian songs by the children in a major event (July 2010);

- a range of performance and educational activities on behalf of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea’s Arts Service;

- Sing Up’s Lincolnshire campaign, in which Reem gave workshops to over 400 kids in primary schools across the county in March 2008;

- workshops in secondary schools as part of Cambridgeshire’s Heart of the World Festival, May 2007;

- a programme of workshops in primary schools in Norfolk in 2005 – 06 on behalf of Creative Partnerships, directed at both pupils and teachers over the school year;

- workshops at the Barbican for London schools, organized by Serious;

- workshops in primary schools in London organized by Cultural Co-operation;

- workshops for children and adults at the British Museum as part of a major exhibition of Palestinian Costume (1990-92);

- workshops for community groups and choirs, including the Sheffield Socialist Choir and the Bristol Red Notes Choir;

- workshops for children with special needs or behavioural issues in London, Stoke-on- Trent and Cambridgeshire;

- workshops at major festivals including WOMAD, Musicport, Drum Camp and Tribe of Doris.

Moreover, as a bi-lingual and bi-cultural artist, Reem can reach audiences who would not otherwise attend music events. Examples of this include her workshops for women only in Bradford (March 2016) and Burngreave, Sheffield (Nov 2014 & May 2008).

Further information on Reem’s educational activities can be found at: http://www.reemkelani.com/education.asp

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