Glowing under stage lights at the most recent Aswat concert, that shock of wispy platinum blonde hair on a petite and delicate frame is Tanya Stum, Aswat vocalist and vocal trainer. With a life steeped in music performance and education, and an affinity for things Arab, it was only a matter of time before she and Aswat found each other, and find each other they did in 2011. An American of Scottish-Irish-German-Iroquois descent and a native of rural Pennsylvania, Tanya is connected to the Arab world only through her heart, and that connection has proven a strong one throughout her life. As a testament to the power of the arts, Tanya’s making as an Arabophile is rooted in her numerous encounters with the Arab arts, beginning with a picture of textiles in an encyclopedia when she was a little girl. As she grew up, Tanya’s portal to the Arab world expanded to include Arab folk dance and food – that is, the culinary arts. Today, it is Arab music that enriches that connection, and Aswat has provided the venue to make that possible. Underlying Tanya’s Arab connection through the arts, however, are actual people – Arabs – with whom long-lasting friendships are under way as they come together in Aswat over Arab food, dance, and music.
What role has music played in your life?
Music has played a great role in my life ever since I was a small child. While growing up in a church, I was the designated pianist and organist. Throughout college I studied classical voice and opera, and at this point in my life, it’s my profession. I teach at the SF Boys Chorus, where I direct preparatory boys of 6 to 7 years of age using the Kodaly method. I also teach theory and musicianship to older elementary boys at that organization and I will be teaching a children’s class at the Jazz school in Berkeley in the fall.
Why Arab music?
I remember when I was a small child, I would look at the world encyclopedia and I would always gravitate towards Middle Eastern textiles and culture. Later on, when I went to college, I was introduced to Middle Eastern friends, and I guess that’s where my love for the Arab World was spawned.
How did you learn about Aswat?
I learned about Aswat from a former colleague who was going to see Aswat with a friend, and he had an extra ticket. He asked me if I wanted to go, and I said, “yes”. When I saw Aswat perform for the first time, I knew that the group was going to be in my life in the future at some point.
You are a cancer survivor. Did music play any role in your healing?
When I first came to Aswat, I met Nabila Mango, and I realized that she was very ill with cancer. I was able to identify with her since I had just gone through cancer myself. I was singing for another group where I was a soloist at times, and they were absolutely instrumental in the healing process. When I even felt better, I joined Aswat, and that was a continuation of the healing process for me.
What are some of your most memorable experiences in Aswat?
When I first met people in Aswat, they were very welcoming, and I really appreciated them coming up to me, introducing themselves, and telling me a little about themselves. My favorite experience in Aswat, however, is a recurring one. Each week at Aswat practice, non-Arabic speakers study the pronunciation of Arabic song lyrics first, and then move on to singing the lyrics of the song with correct pronunciation, but without music. Then, the instrumentalists and singers all come together, and put the song together. That moment when we put the song together is a really positive and precious moment for me.
What impact has Aswat had in your life?
Aswat has had a great impact in my life, musically speaking. I also have a new network of friends – wonderful people – and a new understanding of Arab music.
What value has Arab music added to your appreciation of music itself?
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What other aspects of Arab culture do you like?
I really love Arab food. I really appreciate its healthiness. I noticed that since I’ve been in Aswat, I’ve been implementing a more Arab diet – eating a lot more hummus. My first experience with Arab food was during college. Friends and I would go to a restaurant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania called Ali Baba, which is actually still in business. I loved going there. When I joined Aswat, there were potlucks and gatherings at restaurants. It inspired me to have more Arab food in my life so I actually visit several Arab markets at this point. I love tabbouleh and baba ghanoush, and I just love trying out new food. Arab desserts are fantastic.
What do you think of Arab men?
I think Arab men in general are really good-looking [giggles girlishly]. I do love Middle Eastern men, but just to look at. My husband knows this. I married an American – a pasty white man of English and German descent. I’ve been married to him 16 years. He’s a robotics geek, extremely resourceful, funny, and adorable. I love his intellect and sensitivity, and his ease with expressing his sensitivity. I call him my “new age man”. Oh, and he’s really good looking, too!
Arab women?
Arab women are very much like American women in that there are some who are traditional, and others who are very progressive and outspoken. I love seeing that similarity.
Is there anything that Aswat members don’t know about you?
Aswat members probably don’t know that I used to have three motorcycles; that I used to lane split on the Bay Bridge; that I used to rock-climb; that I did a tandem hand-gliding session. I am also a bee-keeper. My husband and I have two hives in our backyard. Bees are complex little creatures. They remind me every day about the struggles of life, and death, and I’m glad we are helping the environment by having these bees.
Does your experience in Aswat confirm or challenge Arab stereotypes?
One that was confirmed was that they really like to smoke a lot, particularly during intermission at the concerts [chuckles]. But other than that, people are people. I would like more Americans to know about Arab music and Arabs in general. Where I grew up – in rural Pennsylvania – there is definitely a preconceived idea of what an Arab is. I want to be able to help the Arab community in letting others know that they are people who go to work, who sing, who get together, who experience the same kinds of things that Americans do. When people take the time to learn about each other, barriers are broken, compassion manifests, and meaningful relationships are created…..even with just an encyclopedia.
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