DETROIT — The 18th annual Concert of Colors is thrilled to welcome back music virtuoso Simon Shaheen.  Internationally acclaimed for his mastery of the oud and violin, Shaheen will perform his Concerto No. 1 for Oud and Orchestra at 3:45 p.m. Sunday, July 18 at Orchestra Hall. Tito Muñoz will conduct the concert. Like all Concert of Colors events, it’s free.

Simon Shaheen

Shaheen is Palestinian, and grew up in a house full of music.  He learned to play oud at the age of 5 from his father, who also was a master musician. Shaheen studied at the Academy of Music in Jerusalem, the Manhattan School of Music and Columbia University.  His work reflects a legacy of Arabic music and breaks new ground by incorporating different styles. The Concerto was commissioned by the DSO in 2008 and was the first oud concerto Shaheen wrote.

“Since I am versed in both Arabic and Western classical styles, I worked on bridging the sounds with the oud and the orchestra,” he says. “I used some of the Arabic music scales and rhythmic modes so that the orchestra doesn’t sound like the typically Western classical harmony, but has certain colors and textures. The Detroit orchestra is a pleasure. They succeeded in bringing those colors out and it works very well with the sound of the oud.”

Shaheen spends most of his time performing and teaching nationally and internationally, and thinks events like the Concert of Colors are important to the community.

“This is really a good experience to draw out the Arab community to hear me and the orchestra, and maybe after that they come again to hear the symphony. It’s very important to be involved in supporting museums and symphonies and artistic works.”

Local Arabic music fans such as Arab Detroit founder Warren David are looking forward to the DSO performance.

“Simon Shaheen’s passion for traditional Arab music, coupled with his unique fervor for fusion, makes him one of the leading Arab musicians in North America today,” says David. “As an aficionado of Arab music, both as a listener and promoter, I am very excited to see him perform with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at the Concert of Colors. His concerto is such a unique fusion of East and West.”

Keith Koppmeier, programs administrator for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, agrees. “I’m very happy to have Simon come back,” Koppmeier says. “He’s just an incredible musician and it’s an exciting concerto.  He has a definite fan base here in Detroit.

“Concert of Colors is one of the most exciting things we do at the DSO all year,” says Koppmeier. “It’s a great opportunity for the community to learn about the different cultures that Detroit has through music, art and food. A lot of festivals have disappeared, and it’s a testament to the importance of this one that it’s still going on and still going strong. It’s a wonderful experience.”

The weekend begins at 3 p.m. Friday, July 16, at a new venue — the Detroit Institute of Arts — with free admission to Through African Eyes: The European in African Art, 1500 to Present. At 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Conductor Chelsea Tipton II will lead the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in two family-friendly concerts, sponsored by Target, in the Great Hall. At 7 p.m. the Mexican folk group Tlen-Huicani will play at the DFT Auditorium, followed by a screening of the 1931 Spanish-language version of “Drácula.”

On Saturday and Sunday, events begin at 2 p.m. in and around the Max M. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit.  Highlights include soul/R&B legend Mavis Staples,  Detroit native and Grammy Award winner Don Was, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra,  Bill Miller, the Codgers, and more. Southeast Michigan’s favorite diversity-themed music festival is enhanced this year with Diversity Games (July 17), a farmers market (July 18) and a food drive.  As always, all performances are free! The event is presented by the Arab American National Museum, New Detroit, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, ACCESS and now, the DIA. For the full schedule, artists’ biographies and music samples, visit www.concertofcolors.com.