Ram Ensemble was formed recently at the Ramallah branch to present Arabic music in its various modern, classical, and traditional musical colors. The group includes eleven male and female musicians who are ESNCM students, graduates, and teachers. It is supervised by Izzeldin Said, a teacher of the qanun and the academic supervisor of the Ramallah branch, who is responsible for the selection and instrumental arrangements of the group’s repertoire.

Ram Ensemble presented its first work, titled “Medley Turath,” in September 2020, on the occasion of its participation in the Toluca Festival in Mexico, organized virtually in coordination with Ramallah Municipality. The group presented a medley of traditional Palestinian and Jordanian songs, recorded in the Conservatory’s studio in Ramallah by a specialized recording and production staff that included Ihab Hania in voice recording and Yaqoub Hammouda as executive producer.

The group currently includes Sivan Barghouti on oud; Saad Mustafa on buzuq; Izzeldin Said on qanun; Nadim Khoury on Arabic percussion; Ram Rabi, Maya Atari, Selena Tannous, Dana Subih, Layan Alian and Karim Barakat on violin; Salma Hammad (guest member) on cello; and Eleni Mustaklem on contrabass.

A video of the group’s performance