The annual Freedom Arts Festival, now in its third year, connects Detroiters to their neighborhood parks. Featuring music, dance, storytelling, and art reflecting Detroit’s multicultural tapestry, the festival brings together freedom, racial justice, history, and connection to place through arts and culture at events throughout the summer and fall at numerous Detroit parks. The Festival is presented with the support of the Detroit Parks Coalition and People for Palmer Park.

Read more detroitparkscoalition.com/freedom-arts-festival

Victor Ghannam (Kanun/Qanun) is American-born of Palestinian descent and an original founding member of the National Arab Orchestra, considered to be the premier Arab orchestra outside of the Middle East. A virtuoso multi-instrumentalist—especially the Oud and Kanun—Ghannam has a diverse musical background and versatility in many musical genres, including Middle Eastern, Flamenco, jazz, and more. He has performed throughout Europe, the Middle East, and North, Central, and South America and has toured with many of the leading recording artists of the Middle East.

Ghannam “is most recognized for his dazzling improvisational taqasim which can be romantic passion, technical brilliance, creative adventure, and intense emotion,” according to Ara Topouzian, hyetimesmusic.com

As a session musician, he was a featured artist on many popular TV series of Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: Legendary Journeys, and the Starz network hit series Spartacus.

Nashwan Pola (Oud) – is a native of Baghdad, Iraq. He is an original founding member of the National Arab Orchestra. Nathan began playing Oud at age 10, tutored in the basics by his father, a professional musician. He then joined the prestigious College of Fine Art at the University of Baghdad.

Roger Kashou (Tabla) is an American born of Palestinian descent. A member of the National Arab Orchestra, he has most recently toured with the Broadway production “The Band’s Visit.”