Students' musical compositions will be launched into space aboard a SpaceX rocket.
Two university students from the UAE are thrilled as their original music compositions are set to be launched and streamed at the International Space Station (ISS) alongside pieces by award-winning musicians following their success in a unique competition.
New York University students Summer Reid and Nadine Kabbani are the winners of the inaugural ASTROBEAT – Music from Space competition, which offers students a rare opportunity to have their musical compositions launched into space aboard a SpaceX rocket.
Student Reactions and Winning Compositions
"I squealed with delight when I saw the email informing me that I had won," said Nadine. The Emirati, who has a double major in Legal Studies and Music from the New York University of Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), submitted an experimental composition titled 'No Gravity' that merges synthesisers with classical instruments to create a futuristic soundscape. "I usually create pieces heavy on piano and other classical instruments, but for this one, I pushed myself to create something space-worthy."
American student Reid's winning submission was an evocative "Little Brooks" piece inspired by a significant family reunion. The composition captures the essence of family bonds and the importance of returning to one's roots and uplifting those who do not have the strength to pick themselves up.
'Surreal' Experience
As a senior pursuing a bachelor's degree in music business at NYU Steinhardt, Reid has been a visiting student at NYUAD. "I'm so incredibly proud of this song and grateful for this opportunity. As a child, I dreamed of being an astronaut, so having my voice floating around the ISS is a dream come true. I'm so excited for this opportunity," she said.
Nadine credited her friends for pushing her forward. "At one point, I was going to submit something that I was not very happy with because I was just so tired of how many times I had reworked it," she said. "But my two best friends wouldn't let me. They pushed me to continue working on it until I was happy. So they were the first people I called when I learned I had won."
Later, when she called her family to share the news, her mother didn't believe her. "When I told her that I won, she laughed and asked what I wanted," she said. "But when I convinced her that I actually won, she was over the moon. I live in Dubai, so when I went home from Abu Dhabi that weekend, she had organised a small party for me with a little cake. It was the sweetest thing."
ASTROBEAT and Collaborative Efforts
ASTROBEAT is a project financed by the Malta Council for Science & Technology through the Space Upstream Programme. The ISS payload opportunity is made available by NanoRacks through its Space Act Agreement with NASA's US National Lab. Leonardo Barilaro, Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering at MCAST, led the project. The collaboration with NYUAD was initiated and supported by Andrea Macciò, director of the Centre for Astrophysics and Space Science.
"It was fantastic to listen to so many outstanding submissions," he said. "For the students, this is a truly unique opportunity. Their compositions will be streamed from space alongside my music, in collaboration with Grammy-nominated cellist Tina Guo and world-renowned producer Steve Mazzaro, as well as the music of Carlos Guedes."
Associate Professor of Music at NYUAD, Carlos Guedes, said the university was proud to host the competition for the first time. "This collaboration with MCAST not only highlights the incredible talents of our students but also showcases NYUAD's commitment to promoting art through innovative projects," he said. "Seeing our students' compositions launched into space is a remarkable milestone, and we are excited to contribute to this unique fusion of music and space exploration."
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