Spyros Koliavasilis presents Mediterranean Soundscapes: a Workshop on Musical Crossroads in the Eastern Mediterranean

About this event

at Willow Grove Cultural Commons

November 1 2 , 2026, 6:30-8:30pm

$ 50 General Admission, $4 0 Museum Member Admission

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Music has long served as a bridge between cultures. In this educational, interactive music workshop, journey through Greece, Turkey , the Arab World, Armenia, and the Balkans and explore their interconnected musical landscape.

In this third installation of the Mediterranean Soundscapes workshop series, music master Dr. Spyros Koliavasilis returns to demonstrate how centuries of migration, trade, cultural exchange, and artistic collaboration have shaped the region’s musical traditions. Participants will learn what makes each individual tradition distinctive as well as d iscover their shared histories and common threads.

Participants of all backgrounds will enjoy the presentation and are welcome. Participants who play traditional Mediterranean instruments (guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, banjo, oud, violin or other bowed instruments) are welcome to bring them to play along with Spyros as he demonstrates , performs, and teaches from the rich repertoires of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Dr. Spyros Koliavasilis is an internationally recognized performer, educator, researcher, and master teacher specializing in the musical traditions of Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean. A recipient of the 2025 Maryland Heritage Award, he has spent decades performing, presenting, and teaching across the United States as well as internationally.

Mediterranean Soundscapes is a workshop series in which participants explore the rich musical traditions of the Mediterranean with award-winning master of Mediterranean traditional music Dr. Spyros Koliavasilis. Workshops combine history, storytelling, performance, musical analysis, and hands-on learning opportunities for a rich, immersive evening.

This event takes place at Willow Grove Cultural Commons. Willow Grove is part of the Sandy Spring Museum's main  building, but  has its own entrance.  From the parking lot, proceed past the museum's front door down the cement walkway until you reach the red stone plaza.

Sandy Spring Museum, Inc. is supported in part by funding from the Maryland State Arts Council ( msac.org ) , the Montgomery County Government, and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.

From Sandy Spring Museum