Carpinteria may be a small town, but the impact they’re looking to make is anything but. On October 27, the Alcazar Theatre will be hosting the UCSB Middle East Ensemble at 5 p.m. for a culturally rich show titled Concert for Peace.
Film producer Larry Nimmer had the idea first, this concert branching out of his promotion of his annual Carpinteria to Santa Barbara Dance for Peace show. His goal for this new project was to stage a concert that would bring together musicians in the Middle East as a way to use music as a means to advocate for peace. As someone who grew up in the ’70s, Zimmer explained his involvement and study in music as a way to celebrate peace, both historically and today. “Music is a way to be positive and entertaining, not to be divisive. I hope to see what music can do now,” he said.
His search for musicians led him to Scott Marcus, the director of the UCSB Middle East Ensemble. Marcus founded and has been leading the ensemble since 1989, and expressed his enthusiasm for the show. “Our concerts introduce people to cultural diversity and vitality in the Middle East,” Marcus explained. “Each community uses music to celebrate and respond to life’s ups and downs.”…