LABYRINTH TALK . Music Education in Non-Western Musical Traditions

In a time when musical traditions increasingly move across countries, cultures, and educational institutions, questions arise about how musical knowledge is transmitted. What happens when music that was originally learned through listening, observation, and playing together enters conservatories, music academies, and other formal learning environments? Which elements are preserved, which are transformed, and what may be lost along the way?

From diverse artistic, pedagogical, and cultural perspectives, host Shalan Alhamwy and guests Ross Daly, Michalis Cholevas, Peppe Frana, and Filip Verneert will explore the relationship between oral transmission and written systems, improvisation as a learning process, and the changing place of tradition in a globalized world. The discussion will also address the differences between learning within and beyond institutional frameworks, as well as the role of the musician as a bearer of cultural memory.

Rather than seeking definitive answers, this conversation aims to create a space for reflection and exchange. How can music continue to evolve without losing its roots? What forms of education make such movement possible? And how can living musical traditions be meaningfully passed on to future generations?

Shalan Alhamwy (moderator)
Syrian-Belgian violinist, composer, curator, and educator Shalan Alhamwy moves effortlessly between Arabic and Western musical traditions. Born in Homs and trained at the Damascus Conservatory, he has built an impressive career in Belgium as a performer, composer, and cultural mediator. He is the artistic director of projects including Jiraan Ensemble and Picea Orientalis, works as a curator and teacher at De Centrale, and is a sought-after speaker and commentator on intercultural music practices. His work is rooted in encounter, dialogue, and the conviction that music can connect people, traditions, and stories.

Ross Daly
Ross Daly is widely regarded as one of the foremost pioneers of contemporary modal music. Born in England, he settled on the island of Crete in the 1970s, where he immersed himself in the musical traditions of the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Central Asia, and India. In 1982, he founded the renowned Labyrinth Musical Workshop, an international meeting place for musicians and students from around the world. As a composer, instrumentalist, and educator, he has developed a unique vision of tradition as a living and evolving practice. His work has inspired generations of musicians to listen, learn, and create across cultural boundaries.

Michalis Cholevas
Greek multi-instrumentalist Michalis Cholevas performs on the ney, saz, tanbur, and tarhu, among other instruments. His musical journey took him from Athens to Codarts Rotterdam, where he specialized in Turkish and Eastern Mediterranean musical traditions. Today, he combines an international performing career with a strong commitment to music education. As a teacher and former Head of Studies at Codarts, he has guided generations of students in modal music, improvisation, and intercultural musical dialogue. His work continually explores the relationship between practice, theory, and transmission, with a particular interest in the connection between master-apprentice traditions and contemporary education.

Peppe Frana
Italian oud player, lutenist, and researcher Peppe Frana has built an exceptional career at the crossroads of Eastern modal music and European medieval traditions. After an early fascination with rock music, he was introduced to the makam traditions of Greece and Türkiye through the work of Ross Daly. He studied with leading masters and went on to become an internationally acclaimed performer, educator, and artistic director of Labyrinth Italia. Frana is known for his deep knowledge of oral traditions, improvisation, and historical performance practice. Throughout his work, artistic practice, research, and education remain closely intertwined.

Filip Verneert
Filip Verneert is a guitarist, researcher, and one of the leading voices in music education in Flanders. He holds a doctorate in the arts, serves as director of Muziekmozaïek Folk & Jazz, is a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University, and is actively involved in the international Ethno network. His research focuses on improvisation, community music, collaborative creativity, and genre-informed music pedagogy. Verneert has published several books and academic studies on participatory music practices and the social impact of music-making. Combining artistic experience, pedagogical expertise, and academic research, he offers a valuable perspective on contemporary approaches to music learning and the transmission of knowledge.