Yuval Ron: Music’s Cross-Cultural Catalyst

In 1998 he released his first solo recording In Between the Heartbeat on Simulacra Records, followed by the CD In the Shallows in 2001. He produced the double album Masada – the Musical Saga starring Davis Gains and provided the ethnic music cues for Helen of Troy (US Network). Yuval Ron is the producer & host of the world music concert series “The International Underground” at the UCLA Hammer Museum.

Most recently, Mark Waldman, an Associate Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Spirituality and the Mind and Adjunct Faculty at Loyola Marymount University and Yuval Ron have collaborated. Using Yuval’s musical talents (designed to bring peace and understanding to diverse religious and ethnic cultures) and Mark’s scientific expertise to demonstrate how the spiritual practices of these religions profoundly affect the brain in life-enhancing ways, together they weave music and meditation to transport people into a realm of peaceful unity and consciousness.

“I met Yuval at a Sufi meditation retreat,” Mark recalls, “where we discovered that we share a similar vision of helping people connect with their deepest values, values that show that every person, of every religion and culture embraces a common, united thread. And when we immerse ourselves in contemplative music and meditation, we change the structure and function of the brain, stimulating the neural circuits of compassion, kindness, and peace.”

“In our workshop,” adds Yuval, “we’ll musically guide you through ancient and modern meditations. We will experience the inner workings of ecstatic Hassidic music and dance, and the Sufi mystical practice of whirling meditation. When we share our personal stories, we’ll use a new form of dialogue meditation created in Mark and Andy Newberg’s university lab.”

The Yuval Ron Ensemble Cd’s “Under The Olive Tree”, “Tree of Life” and “Seeker of Truth” have become international favorites with world music lovers and been featured on National Public Radio’s “Echoes” and “Hearts of Space” programs.

To listen to one of the Yuval Ron Ensemble’s songs, click: 06 Andalusian

For those interested in following Yuval and his music: http://yuvalronmusic.com