...she grew up studying jazz piano and classical ballet in Western Massachusetts. During a brief but intensive stint in New York pursuing a professional ballet career, she fell in love with the city's vibrant music scene and applied to Berklee College of Music. Not long after being accepted, she had the opportunity to travel to the West Bank in Occupied Palestine with her father. During their stay, she developed an interest (which soon became a passion) for Arabic music, singing, culture and language. She resolved to study the arabic 'oud, which is an 11-stringed instrument used widely throughout the Arab and Middle Eastern World. While a student at Berklee, she studied 'oud under the renowned Simon Shaheen, and quickly found herself performing before audiences throughout New England. By the time she graduated Berklee, Cycon had accumulated impressive honors and experiences such as performing her music in Palestine, Lebanon, Senegal, and NYC's Metropolitan Museum of Art, and receiving awards from Berklee's String Department and Contemporary Writing & Production Department. Now, Cycon spends her time managing and composing for, and performing with her 7-person band, Aliya Cycon Project, which plays her original compositions. For more information on ACP, click here

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