Ronnie Malley uses music and his Middle-Eastern lute, the Oud, to to bridge his own American and Palestinian identities and make connections with folks from other cultures. Devoted to cultural coexistence through an artistic lens, Malley visits Chicago Humanities for a musical storytelling performance celebrating global citizenship. Ronnie will play a diverse repertoire consisting of early sacred and secular Andalusian music of the Abrahamic faiths, classical Middle Eastern music, and Palestinian folk songs.

Raised on the southwest side of Chicago, Malley started out playing Middle Eastern and North African music at weddings, restaurants and festivals with his family band. He soon expanded his musical horizons, playing in musical groups, such as Allos Musica, Apollo’s Fire, U of C Middle East Music Ensemble, Mucca Pazza, Silk Road Rising, and Diwan Al-Han. Malley has also earned award-winning theatrical credits, Including Layalina and The Jungle Book (Goodman Theatre); Tony and Grammy-winning, The Band’s Visit; and Mo on Netflix. Never losing the importance of cultural exchange and education, Malley is Executive Director at Intercultural Music Production, and has been a teaching artist for Chicago Public Schools, Global Voices Initiative, Old Town School of Folk Music and University of Chicago.

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