The following piece was prepared for Arts @ MIT:
Back to the Band
Jamshied Sharifi ’83 brings MIT a new award
While MIT may be best known for its Nobel Prize winner and MacArthur “Geniuses,” on June 10, 2018, a Tony Award was added to the mix, thanks to composer Jamshied Sharifi ’83 who helped orchestrate the music for the record-breaking Broadway hit The Band’s Visit.
Visiting the Band
Though he admits that some may see an MIT alumnus winning a Tony as “a bit of an oddity,” Sharifi also hopes that it will demonstrate “the breadth of the student body.”
“MIT people excel at math and science,” he observes, following what may be the most common consideration, “but they’re often broad in their interests and abilities Every time I come to MIT to take part in a musical event I’m amazed at the level of musicianship, musical intelligence, and passion.”
What may make his award odder for Sharifi is the fact that he credits Yazbek with being the “overall musical guru.” (more…)