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Mariela Shaker

Creative Santa Fe Inaugural Award (2016).

Champion of Change for World Refugee Day, The White House (2015).

World Council of Arameans Peace Ambassador (2015).

Peterson Award in Music Performance, Monmouth College (2015).

Colleges Against Cancer Talent Showcase, 2nd place, Monmouth College (2015).

A full Tuition Scholarship for the Master of Music Performance, DePaul University (2015).

A full Academic Scholarship, Monmouth College (2013).

Mariela Shaker, a 2015 graduate of Monmouth College, has been named a “Champion of Change” by President Barack Obama. On June 25, she was honored at a reception and participate in a panel at the White House in connection with World Refugee Day, which was commemorated on June 20.

Mariela Shaker, born 1990 in Aleppo, Syria, started playing the violin at the age of ten when she joined the Arabic Institute of Music in Aleppo (1999). She graduated from the institute in 2004 with distinction. Mariela has been a very active performer in Syria, and has taken part in many festivals and concerts in Aleppo including a solo violin recital in the Directory of Culture and in the St. Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in 2008. Mariela has received many accolades in Syria and was invited to participate in the Dubai Arabian Competition and to play with the Emirate’s Youth Symphony Orchestra. In 2009, she joined the Syndicate of Artists in Syria. Mariela taught the violin for five years at the Arabic Institute of Music. In 2011, she auditioned in London, and subsequently received an offer to complete her music studies in the Trinity Laban Conservatoire for Music. In 2013, Mariela received a scholarship to attend Monmouth College to study Music Performance for her second Bachelor’s degree. She previously received her first Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Aleppo University. Prior to just graduating from Monmouth College, Mariela received an honor for Excellence in Music Performance. She has also been awarded a full tuition academic scholarship so as to study for her Master’s in Music Performance at DePaul University.

Mariela is a member of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony Orchestra. From 2013 to 2015, she served as a concertmaster for the Monmouth College Chamber Orchestra. Mariela appeared as a concert violinist when she performed solo with Mesopotamian Symphony Orchestra in California Theater. On June 20, 2015 Mariela performed a recital at the Kennedy Center in celebration of World Refugee Day which has been organized by UNHCR. Mariela has been named as a Champion of Change for World Refugee by president Obama and was honored at the White House, 2015. In December she played for members of the U.S. legislature. Recent engagements in 2016 include an invitation by Cate Blanchett for a performance in London and a performance for the first Scottish Minister in Scotland at Beyond Borders International Festival. In November, 2016 Mariela got an invitation from International Rescue Committee to perform in present of Queen Rania of Jordan.

Mariela recently performed and spoke at the White House, Brooking Institute, Pentagon Conference, United Nations, Arab American Institute, Georgetown and George Washington universities, Asfari and Saied foundations, Harvard University, Points of Light, International Rescue Committee, Aspen Ideas Festival among many others.

Mariela has been profiled by the Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Buzz Feed, Woman’s Day and many others. Mariela is trying to use her music to build bridges and promote peace and raise awareness for the plights of the Syrian people. Mariela is the peace ambassador of World Council of Arameans. What is remarkable about Mariela is that as a refugee, not only her music is heard, but her voice for refugees in need! Though her own family has no electricity and many times she is unable to have contact, she perseveres for this noble cause. http://www.refinery29.com/2015/06/89878/syrian-genocide-mariela-shaker-violin 29 June 2015

http://www.buzzfeed.com/hayesbrown/she-fled-syria-and-found-refuge-on-the-stage#.rj8Jwbwk8n

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/refugee-violinist-mariela-shaker_us_56ec2787e4b03a640a6a48ef?zzd7vi

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posttv/world/syrian-refugee-im-committed-to-the-power-of-music/2015/07/01/5e2534d4-201c-11e5-a135-935065bc30d0_video.html Washington Post 1 July 2015

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/globalcity/ct-global-city-syrian-refugee-met-20160122-story.html January 22, 2016 http://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-syria-refugee-mariela-shaker-photos-20160121-photogallery.html January 21, 2016

http://www.womansday.com/life/real-women/a53079/violinist-mariela-shaker-syrian-refugee/ 1 February 2016

http://www.pointsoflight.org/programs/recognition/dpol/awards/6023 http://www.thegeorgetowndish.com/thedish/syrian-refugee-musician-and-three-honorees-points-light-gala 23 October 2016

https://www.rescue.org/article/dear-world-refugees-are-not-be-feared-0 - International Rescue Committee December 23 2016 https://www.rescue.org/article/worst-year-syrians-10-moments-showed-best-humanity 22 December 2016

http://www.unhcr.org/mariela-shaker.html

http://wgntv.com/2017/02/02/music-student-with-asylum-fears-leaving-country-to-perform-visit-family-after-travel-ban/ 2 February 2017 https://psmag.com/news/meet-the-musical-couple-kept-apart-by-trumps-travel-ban 4 February 2017 https://highlandernews.org/27769/middle-eastern-student-center-brings-spirit-syria-ucr/ 14 February 2017 http://www.njtvonline.org/news/video/montville-students-learn-tough-life-lessons/ May 18 2017 http://hawaiipublicradio.org/post/seventh-art-stand-hawai-i 30 May 2017 http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/35577990/museum-screens-films-from-nations-affected-by-travel-ban June 3 2017 http://www.arabnews.com/node/1136616/corporate-news - playing for Prince William and Syria Relief 30 July 2017

http://www.monmouthcollege.edu/information/newsEvents/newsDetails.aspx?Channel=%2FChannels%2FCampus+Wide&WorkflowItemID=ba9c2fb2-da69-4fbc-b512-b7239ce4d32d

http://thelogjournal.com/2017/04/27/in-review-the-canales-project/ April 22, 2017