The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

Professor at Northeastern brings international music expertise to campus

Professor at Northeastern brings international music expertise to campus

By Gus Castillo

This semester, Northeastern University has embracedthe opportunity to host radio personality and music festival director Dubi Lenz, former emcee of the Israeli radio program “HaKol Zorem” for the last 30 years. Lenz’s résumé includes being president of the Europe Forum of Music Festivals and director of Israel’s biggest jazz festival, the Red Sea Jazz Festival.

“Dubi Lenz brings a wealth of world music experience to our community. He is a warm and generous person, who has produced festivals of world music and annual jazz festivals on the Red Sea,” Lori Lefkovitz, professor and director of Jewish studies, said.

Lori Lefkovitz has been given the task of helping Lenz’s transition to Northeastern beas smooth as possible.

Despite being a man of major industrial accomplishments, however, Dubi Lenzi hopes to focus on providing a more philosophical lesson to students when it comes to music.

“In my life, I try to think in other ways I usually wouldn’t… I want to open [student’s] minds, I want to open their ears to music that they wouldn’t really like, and to broaden their horizons,” Lenz said. “The name of my radio show means ‘everything flows,’ and it is how I live my life…and it is why I am very lucky to being where I am today.”

Lenz has attributed his ability to reach beyond his comfort zone and bases his actions on the ideas of Heraclitus, an ancient Greek philosopher who became famous for his panta rhei quotes. Lenz plans on using his life experience over his academic feats to teach his class.

“When I do lineups for music festivals, I use an anchor, a big name, but then I bring in some smaller groups that can become the anchors for the next music festival. In a way, just like my radio show, my music festivals were educational,” Lenz explained.

Much of Lenz’s work has been geared towards providing both the general beauty and accompanying benefits of knowledge of music throughout the world.

“You really have to open your eyes, because this world is so big…but you really should try to listen tomusic that you wouldn’t normally like. If you like, say hard rock, it’s okay, but maybe you should try Gypsy music as well,” explains Lenz.

Through his class, Special Topics in Music Industry: Festivals, Labels, and Radio, Lenz wants students to explore new music. However, he has struggled since his first class only had four students.

“I think when I explained what I wanted the lectures to be about, [the students] got cold feet, or cold ears…and it is frustrating because I cannot donate what I know to others,” Lenz said

Lenz, however, is optimistic that this will not remain a problem for long, since many students here at Northeastern share similar views.

“You have to start on investigating a little, you can’t really just stay in the same lane of music, but it is almost even intimidated how much music is out there to listen to.”

Along with students like Cardillo students in other departments have learned to appreciate Lenz’s presence on campus.

“He visited my class on Jewish Religion and Culture and played music and video clips showing the great variety of ways that Jewish liturgy has found its way into contemporary Israeli music, from heavy metal to folk to pop,” Lefkovitz said.

Lefkovitz expressed her joy for Lenz’s stay here at Northeastern, mentioning his friendly attitude with the faculty and his emphasis on music being a means of peace.

Dubi Lenz began his love of music and radio when he was ayoung child.

“[For as long as I remember] I listened to radio. There was only one channel on the radio, and I was always next to one. Some of my family members were part of the philharmonic back in Israel, so I was always listening to music,” Lenz said.

Despite being an advent music follower in his youth, he said he never had the patience to actually learn how to play. Because of this shortcoming, Lenz wasn’t always aware that music could become his career.

“When I was a student at the university, I studied economics, and I thank God that I have not been sitting at an office in a bank for the past 40years,” Lenz said. After not completing his economics degree, Lenz went on to secure a position with theIsraeli national radio, only to retire four weeks before his arrival to Northeastern. As for future plans, Lenz is not sure just yet.

“Maybe I try to find another place here to be closer to my grandson,” Lenz said, whose motivation to teach at Northeastern is also rooted in being closer to family.

A list of  Lenz’s upcoming lectures can be found on the Northeastern website,includingnext Thursday’s presentation on producing musical festivals, featuring guest speaker Joey Baron, executive director of the Boston Jewish Music Festival, at 2:50 p.m. in 215 Ryder Hall.

 

Photo courtesy of Dubi Lenz

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