Nyteeh Camara

Duke students and faculty members gathered recently at the Pink Parlor in the East Duke Building to learn about how music carries tradition and sound that travels across time and regions. “Strings of Tradition: Oriental Maqām in Performance” was hosted by the Duke University Middle East Studies Center and the Duke Islamic Studies Center. The performance was led by Radwan Mezghanni, who guided attendees through the maqām by playing a musical instrument called the ʿūd.

This is the second article in a special series featuring the Duke Symphony Orchestra (DSO). That Monday evening, when I sat down with five students to talk about their experiences in the DSO, I had anticipated hearing stories of child prodigies’ musical journeys or personal accomplishments through joining the orchestra, perhaps told with obscure musical jargon thrown in the mix.

Mar 14, 2026, 4:00 AM This year’s Oscars will air live on Sunday, March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood with Conan O’Brien serving as host — one of the last Academy Awards to be shown over TV before the ceremony’s 2029 move to YouTube. Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman announced the highly anticipated nominations on Jan. 22.