Tunisia: Mariem Dabboussi awarded 2021 Media Sound Hamburg scholarship

Dabboussi, a masters student in music and musicology at the Higher Institute of Music in Tunis, will travel to Germany to participate in the 10th edition of the international summer academy between 10 and 15 August. The scholarship will cover meals, accommodation and board worth €3 000 ($3 600).

This edition’s programme will feature masterclasses, workshops, and special events, including the renowned MSH conference. MSH received 55 applications from several countries around the world, including Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the DRC, Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya, Zambia and Mozambique.

MSH lecturer Stephan Eicke said the faculty at the academy were highly impressed by Dabboussi’s remarkable skills and talent.

“She seems to be at the right stage in her life to attend and take advantage from Media Sound Hamburg,” he said. “She has a bachelor in cinema and audiovisual and has already gathered some experience in the fields of music and sound design. Although a foundation has already been laid, she has not yet actively worked in music and sound design for movies, TV and games, which means we can, hopefully, provide her with a lot of practical knowledge.”

He added: “Most of the applications came from Africa, which we appreciate and take as a good sign that our collaboration with the Music In Africa Foundation is paying off and bearing fruit to aspiring artists in the field.”

Dabboussi, who is the first beneficiary of the scholarship from North Africa, said: “This scholarship will give me the chance to develop my skills and my knowledge, and to discover new aspects of music and sound design. This scholarship is a dream come true and I believe the opportunity will allow me to be more productive in the future. I look forward to meeting new people that are as passionate about creating music as I am and sharing ideas with them. This will enable me to explore new visions about music and sound design.”

The 25 year old will be graduating later this year, after which she plans to enrol in a masters degree in science of music and spectacles.

Another scholarship recipient for 2021 is Marisol Cao Milán, a Cuban composer, conductor and sound designer. “Marisol’s eagerness to explore new sounds and her passion for cinema and video games, in particular, made her an ideal candidate – especially since she is mostly self-taught as music for media is not taught in Cuba,” Eicke said.

Since 2018, MSH has awarded scholarships to African musicians and sound diegners, including Rethabile Nyamate (South Africa, 2018) and Emmanuel Lamptey-Mills (Ghana, 2019).

Media Sound Hamburg is an international summer academy for film music, game music and sound design held annually in the northern German city since 2011. At various workshops, masterclasses and forums, the participants work on specific projects and explore new artistic work ideas alongside accomplished names in the world of composition and sound design.

For more information, visit the Media Sound Hamburg official website.