Mena Mark
Hanna, Founding Dean and Professor of Musicology and Composition at the
Barenboim-Said Akademie, joined our nascent team in late 2014 as one of its
first members and has played a major role in building the institution from an
ambitious idea into a fully accredited conservatory for Music and the
Humanities. His artistic and academic curiosity and his practical experiences
from a distinguished academic career and in various roles in the classical
music industry made him an invaluable asset in the realization of our vision.
As of October
2021, right after leading his last edition of the Edward Said Days at the
Akademie, Mena will take up new responsibilities as General Director of Spoleto
Festival USA. As one of the most
important festivals in the US, Spoleto Festival USA showcases artistic
genre-crossing performances and reaches an international audience. The line-up
includes renowned artists like Renée Fleming, Joshua Bell and Yo-Yo Ma as well
as multiple opera-premieres such as “The American Clock” by Arthur Miller or
“Hydrogen Jukebox” by Philip Glass and Allen Ginsberg. Hanna will start his new
position in October 2021 during the 45th anniversary of the festival.