A contributing article by Mr. Wilbert Odisho, the Master of Ceremonies and a member of Mesopotamian Night Production Team.
A show like no other for a cause like no other ...
It’s rare to find the perfect medium to showcase your national talent while helping a very important cause. It’s been a privilege to be part of the Assyrian Aid Society’s Mesopotamian Night event that exactly does that. Building on the success of the previous year’s events, the dedicated team of volunteers are at it again – preparing for another history-making, record-setting event. As soon as the 2012 show was wrapped up in February 2012, the team began working on the June 15, 2013, program, marking the sixth annual event.
The team, led by the visionary Tony Khoshaba, begins its working meetings by reminding everyone the reason for the event – to raise money for the Assyrian Aid Society which has funded reconstruction programs, education programs and medical projects in the homeland. After that, the talented Fred Elieh takes over developing the content and bringing together a large ensemble of cast members. Sargon Alkurge starts to discuss the financial details and budgets. I begin working on the show logistics, venue selection and the other aspects of the event. We set the framework for what we believe will be an event that will make another everlasting impression on the audience. We then start to contact our network of friends, family members and passionate nationalists to ask for help in producing the rest of the show. That is where the fun begins!
Due to the precedent-setting solid content of the previous years’ show and the worthy cause, it is rare for any individual to refuse to be a part of the program. People from all walks of life come together to lend a helping hand to the project. In many cases, hundreds of hours are dedicated to the show by each individual and to top it off, most cast members also financially donate to the cause. The audiences are eager for another show that established a new standard for the Assyrian Arts . . .
We are hoping that this year’s show sets a record in attendance and fundraising. Our intention is to gather the largest Assyrian Choir ever assembled outside the Middle East to sing classic Assyrian Songs. We will be showcasing the works of Rabi William Daniel, Rabi Nebu Issabey, the songs of Rabi Yacoub Bet-Yacoub and the songs of the legendary, beloved Shamiram Urshan and Biba. We can’t do it alone. It takes you, me and the rest of our community to bring the show together and gather the audience for it.
Please feel free to contact us if you would like to donate your time, become a sponsor or support the program in any other way. We’ll see you when the curtain goes up on June 15, 2013 . . .
December 19, 2012
Wilbert Odisho
A show like no other for a cause like no other ...
It’s rare to find the perfect medium to showcase your national talent while helping a very important cause. It’s been a privilege to be part of the Assyrian Aid Society’s Mesopotamian Night event that exactly does that. Building on the success of the previous year’s events, the dedicated team of volunteers are at it again – preparing for another history-making, record-setting event. As soon as the 2012 show was wrapped up in February 2012, the team began working on the June 15, 2013, program, marking the sixth annual event.
The team, led by the visionary Tony Khoshaba, begins its working meetings by reminding everyone the reason for the event – to raise money for the Assyrian Aid Society which has funded reconstruction programs, education programs and medical projects in the homeland. After that, the talented Fred Elieh takes over developing the content and bringing together a large ensemble of cast members. Sargon Alkurge starts to discuss the financial details and budgets. I begin working on the show logistics, venue selection and the other aspects of the event. We set the framework for what we believe will be an event that will make another everlasting impression on the audience. We then start to contact our network of friends, family members and passionate nationalists to ask for help in producing the rest of the show. That is where the fun begins!
Due to the precedent-setting solid content of the previous years’ show and the worthy cause, it is rare for any individual to refuse to be a part of the program. People from all walks of life come together to lend a helping hand to the project. In many cases, hundreds of hours are dedicated to the show by each individual and to top it off, most cast members also financially donate to the cause. The audiences are eager for another show that established a new standard for the Assyrian Arts . . .
We are hoping that this year’s show sets a record in attendance and fundraising. Our intention is to gather the largest Assyrian Choir ever assembled outside the Middle East to sing classic Assyrian Songs. We will be showcasing the works of Rabi William Daniel, Rabi Nebu Issabey, the songs of Rabi Yacoub Bet-Yacoub and the songs of the legendary, beloved Shamiram Urshan and Biba. We can’t do it alone. It takes you, me and the rest of our community to bring the show together and gather the audience for it.
Please feel free to contact us if you would like to donate your time, become a sponsor or support the program in any other way. We’ll see you when the curtain goes up on June 15, 2013 . . .
December 19, 2012
Wilbert Odisho