Mazaya is a Rabat based socio-cultural music program launched by Dina Bensaïd. Bensaïd is the daughter of esteemed violinist and founder of the Moroccan Philharmonic Orchestra and the Tenor Foundation for Culture, Daniel Bensaïd. Since 2012, Mazaya has aimed to use classical music to help children integrate into society and give them the resources and structure to become professional musicians. Mazaya recognizes that the school drop out and illiteracy rate are a a big issue in Morocco.
“We want to provide children programs with training that combines school education and a professional music course” says Bensaïd.
Bensaïd grew up around music and after graduating from the National Conservatory of Music and Dance in Paris, returned to Morocco and began a career as a pianist. She eventually she became the director of the Tenor Foundation for Culture and the artistic director of Morocco’s only classical music festival, Printemps Musical des Aziles. The director explained ” classical music is real life school and helps to structure the mind and develop sensitivity.”
The program is supported by European Union, National Initiative for Human Development, the OCP Foundation, and private donations. To date Mazaya has included 65 students, some of whom have already played with the Moroccan Philharmonic Orchestra at 2018 Winter concert accompanied by Jean Francois Zygel. Most recently they performed at Rabat’s Ecole Internationale de Musique & Danse.