Zade Brings Harmony Through Melodies

Not many things can transcend cultural and language barriers besides the arts. A striking photograph can touch the heart of a Kenyan child as well as French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The same can be said of instrumental music. Because it lacks lyrics, everyone can understand the beauty of a melody.

This year, world-renowned pianist Zade, 30, is launching the Young Composers for Peace Award through his eponymous foundation. Musicians ages 18–23 can submit a three to eight minute piece that signifies their deep cultural heritage as well as their efforts for tranquility between nations. The winner, which will be announced in late 2010 (submissions are due by November), will receive $5,000 and Zade will record his/her composition on an upcoming album.

It's possible that no artist is a better judge of using music for social change than Zade. Born in Jordan, he was far from sheltered. His father had spent time in the United States and his mother was well-traveled, so they were constantly exposing their child to French music and Argentinean tango, among other things. Zade studied Arabic and started studying at the National Music Conservatory founded by Queen Noor when he was 12 years old. A few years later, he moved to America and enrolled at Boston's Berklee College of Music where his career really skyrocketed.

"In the music industry, if you want to look at a global career, you need a foundation in LA or New York — or in Nashville if you want to do country," Zade told Tonic. "You need to surround yourself with the best in the world."

This is exactly what Zade did until Sept. 11, 2001. After the attacks on the World Trade Center, he felt that "terrorists hijacked his religion" and broke from the musical hotbeds of the East and West Coasts, touring the world for the next four years. For 200 nights annually, Zade could be found playing for crowds as prestigious as Queen Rania in UNESCO's Parisian headquarters and as commonplace as a local synagogue in Anytown, USA, demonstrating that the Middle East could be peaceful. He followed up this tour with the creation of the Zade Foundation for International Peace and Understanding, with which he has touched thousands of lives through its Beautiful World Project and Roads to You program.

"The Beautiful World Project was developed truthfully to give music to the rural world," Zade said. "A lot of these kids have never seen a piano before — much less in concert.... A project like Roads to You, you're deconstructing cultural barriers [through music]."

For his latest endeavor, the Young Composers for Peace Award, Zade hopes to build "a legacy that will live on after I'm gone."

"One of the greatest things about music is that when it's honest, people respond," he said. "You can't fake honesty. It's a great way to touch people. All of a sudden, you can talk. You don't have to talk politics or religion. We can talk from a human perspective. We might as well enjoy each other, enjoy your time. We don't have a lot of time in this world, so we shouldn't spend our time fighting. Honestly, I don't get it. I never did."

To enter the competition, click here.

Photos by Suzuki K. via Shore Fire Media.