We have an extraordinary amount of talent and experience gathered in one place, including some of the most well-known Middle Eastern dance teachers and musicians in North America. Most of our staff grew up with this traditional music and dance while others learned from ethnic performers here and abroad.

• SUREN BARONIAN (tambourine, ensemble)
• SERPIL BOROZAN (Turkish Singing)
• RACHID HALIHAL (Arabic ensemble, North African frame drums)
• SOUHAIL KASPAR (Arabic percussion - tablah, tambourine)
• MAMAK KHADEM (Persian singing)
• GEORGES LAMMAM (violin, Arabic singing)
• SCOTT MARCUS (maqam and nay)
• PAUL OHANESIAN (Armenian oud)
• BAHRAM OSQUEEZADEH (santur)(will have extra santurs available to borrow)
  
• YUVAL RON (Judeo-Arabic music traditions of the Middle East and North Africa including ancient Hebrew prayers, Jewish and Arabic music originated from Andalusia and preserved in North Africa and Israeli folk songs and their relation to Sacred Hebrew Music)
• HAMID SAEIDI (ensemble)
• DROR SINAI (drum ensemble)
• ROWAN STORM (Persian frame drum - dayereh, daf, tambourine)
• AFIF TAIAN (Arabic oud)
• ERGUN TAMER (maqam and saz)
• OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK (ney and zurna)
• MURAT TEKBILEK (Turkish darbuka)

ISUREN BARONIAN (tambourine, ensemble) an Armenian-American from New York City, has performed throughout the U.S. and abroad as soloist and with his groups Taksim, a Near Eastern/jazz fusion band, Transicion and Oudansquerade. Souren has studied with the well known Turkish clarinetist Gundeger, and has played and recorded with leading Armenian, Turkish, and Greek musicians in this country for over 35 years.

SERPIL BOROZAN (Turkish Singing) is a graduate of Istanbul Technical University Music Conservatory with a specialty in Turkish Classical Music Prior to moving to the United States, she performed as a member of the Turkish Youth Chorus at Turkish State Radio and Television (TRT). After moving to Chicago, she joined the Middle East Music Ensemble directed by Issa Boulos.

In Los Angeles, she joined the Silk Road Music and Dance Ensemble as the primary vocalist singing the group's Turkish Classical Music reparatory. She has been teaching and performing Turkish classical songs, and giving concerts in Los Angeles area.

RACHID HALIHAL (Arabic ensemble, North African frame drums) brings alive the true character and spirit of music from the classical Egyptian repertoire; from the diverse regions of Morocco; and from the Arabian Gulf. Growing up in Fez, Morocco, at fourteen he entered the Conservatory of Music there to study Western classical and Andalusian music which best features his voice. In addition his strongest instruments are the oud (Arabic lute) and the violin, which he plays in both the classical manner and upright resting on the knee.

The music Rachid presents is soulful and poetic as well as very danceable. He has presented his music in Ivory Coast, Sweden, Finland at the Helsinki International Music Festival, Denver Colorado, New York City at Columbia University with visiting Israeli singer, Michel Cohen, as well as other ethnic concerts and in various Moroccan establishments throughout the city; and Agadir, Morocco, where he fully managed a night club, his own band, and folkloric troupe for seven years. He then accompanied on his violin, the best known Arabian singer Mohamed Abdo, in the Arabian Gulf for two years.

SOUHAIL KASPAR (Arabic percussion - tablah, tambourine) Grammy-nominated Souhail Kaspar, Master Percussionist, is known world wide for his brilliant technique, exciting performances and teaching skills. A true virtuoso, his ability to improvise and embellish the rhythmic patterns of Arabic music, as well as his knowledge of ethnic musical history make him one of the most highly acclaimed performers and instructors of our day.

Born in Lebanon and trained at Nadi al-Fonun al-Arabia (Conservatory of Traditional Arabic Music) in Aleppo, Syria, he excelled in both classical and ethnic rhythmic patterns and techniques; there he received his Degree in Classical Arabic Performance.

Mr. Kaspar has worked with legendary Egyptian composers Farid al-Atrash, Sayyad Makowi and Hanni Mehanna. He has traveled extensively during his career and has performed with artists John Bilezikjian, Kenny Burrell, Omar Faruk, Shujaat Khan, Kronos Quartet, Cheb Mami, Dr. Scott Marcus, Roberto Miranda, Tito Puente, The Sacramento Symphony Orchestra, Kathem al-Saher, Simon Shaheen, Sting, Strunz & Farah, Ottmar Liebert,Wadi al-Safi and many others. He has also performed for dignitaries such as Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul II, and the Dalai Lama.

Souhail, recipient of the Durfee Music Fellowship given to master musicians and teachers, has worked with Dr. Ali Jihad Racy (renowned UCLA Ethnomusicologist) at a wide variety of cultural events. Together they have performed in major concert halls and taught master classes and workshops throughout the United States.
His impressive body of recorded work includes soundtrack credits for the movies The Prince of Egypt, Sinbad and Scooby Doo in Egypt and for the documentaries The Region of the Nile, Darfur Now and The Great Bazaars. He has been featured on many CDs including guest percussionist on Caravan with the cutting edge Kronos Quartet, When the Soul is Settled: Music of Iraq for the Smithsonian Institute (nominated for the 2008 Grammy Traditional World Music Category), The Congo Square Project to provide relief funds for New Orleans musicians, Khaliji and Magic.
Recordings for educational purposes include his CD Awzan: Arabic Rhythmic Modes and his DVD Foundations of Arabic Rhythm with Souhail Kaspar, Master Class at Home for Egyptian Tablah & Riqq. He has recently completed filming two new instructional DVD’s Intermediate & Advanced Techniques & Rhythms with Souhail Kaspar, Master Class at Home for Egyptian Tablah and Egyptian Rhythm & Movement for Raqs al-Sharqi with Souhail Kaspar: Master Class at Home for Dancers & Drummers.

Souhail’s signature Egyptian drum line was released in 2007. Currently, Souhail Kaspar lives in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

He performs/records internationally, teaches percussion and dance theory as well as coaches professional musicians and dancers in the traditions of Arabic performance.

GEORGES LAMMAM (violin, Arabic singing) the second of three brothers who are professional musicians, has been on stage since the age of 15. Of Palestinian descent, born in Beirut, Lebanon and living for 14 years in the United Arab Emirates, he is well-known in the Middle East and the United States as a solo violinist exemplifying the Arab style of instrumental improvisation and lyricism. The Georges Lammam Ensemble has performed at the San Francisco World Music Festival, The Legion of Honor Museum, the De Young Museum in San Francisco, The Fine Arts Cinema in Berkeley, and many more local and national venues. He has taught Arabic music ensemble and vocal classes at the University of California at Berkeley, Humboldt State University, Santa Fe College and Middlebury College in Vermont.  In 2009, Mr. Lammam toured the United States with the Aswat Orchestra under the direction of Simon Shaheen, in a series of concerts representing the Golden Age of Arab Music, presented in association with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

MAMAK KHADEM (Persian singing) is the lead singer of the cross-cultural Persian fusion ensemble Axiom of Choice. Trained in the classical Persian style, by nature poignant, she weaves emotive textures ranging from bliss to pain, which give a mystical and nostalgic bent to the music.  Mamak’s passion for Persian music started when she started training at the Children’s Choir for National Radio and Television of Iran where her musical education began. But it was not until the late seventies and after the revolution that she truly became inspired to learn Persian traditional vocals. Her love for traditional music has always been a great motivation in preserving her Iranian cultural heritage while living in the West. Inspired by works of master musicians in the 1980s, she has seized every opportunity to further her vocal art, regularly traveling back to Iran to study with some of the finest Persian vocalists and masters. She has expanded her vocal repertoire also by learning other methods of singing (such as classical Indian, and Bulgarian) while exploring the traditional music of Greece, Turkey, and Armenia. Mamak believes that the path of learning is endless and that Persian vocal art can be successfully used outside of its traditional context.

Singing on film scores has opened a new dimension on Mamak’s career. Since it is based on improvisation and visual experiences, it allows her greater emotional freedom in expanding her creativity. She has recorded with Hans Zimmer (on the feature soundtrack to the motion picture “Peace Maker”),  Jeff Rona (on the score of “Traffic” and “Profiler” TV series), Marco Beltrami (on the feature soundtrack to the motion picture “Dracula 2000”),  Chris Beck (on the score to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” TV series), and Richard Gibbs (on the score of “Battlestar Galactica” TV series).

Besides recording with film composers, Mamak has also worked, performed and/or recorded with Turkish singer Omar Faruk Tekbilek  (on the album “Alif”), Jamshied Sharifi (on “A Prayer for the Soul of Layla”), and Tulku (on “Season of Souls”).

SCOTT MARCUS (Arabic maqam and nay) has a doctorate in ethnomusicology from UCLA with a specialization in Arabic modal theory (maqam). Scott, a musician versatile on several instruments, studied oud as well as music theory in Cairo, Egypt. Currently he teaches ethnomusicology at UC Santa Barbara where he also directs a Middle Eastern ensemble.

PAUL OHANESIAN (Armenian oud) has been involved with the San Francico Bay Area Armenian music scene since Age 8,as a percussionist under the tutelage of Charlie Alexanian. Paul picked up the oud in 1973; the result of a party conversation with a violinist and a drummer. In 1977 he joined Robaire Nakashian to work with his Belly Dance Troup – Zaghareet. The popular duo appeared at restaurants, festivals, and special events.He played concerts at the Bach Dynamite Society with Peter Dorian, and Alan Ishmael. He played oud duets with Joe Zeytoonian at the 1988 Mid East Camp, and in concert with Joe in 1990. Currently he’s playing oud and percussion with the traditional Egyptian band Al Azifoon.

BAHRAM OSQUEEZADEH (santur)(will have extra santurs for interested new students) An introduction to Persian classical music system "dastgāh". All are welcome. Any instrument--including Persian or non-Persian--can join the class. We will learn the concept of dastgāh through performance and discussion.

Bahram Osqueezadeh is a multi-instrumentalist and specialist on the santur who trained in Tehran under the direction of greatest masters of time such as Maestro Payvar and Meshkatian. He received his Ph.D. in music composition from UC Santa Barbara, MFA from UC Irvine, and BA from the University of Tehran. He is a gold award winner at the Fajr Festival and a multiple Corwin Metropolitan Theater first-prize winner. He is recognized as a gifted composer and a virtuoso Santur player, a visionary arrenger and an effective studio musician. He has produced many albums most of which in Tehran. His compositions range from symphony orchestra to electronic music and traditional regional ensembles. He has toured Iran, Europe, and the United States.

YUVAL RON (Judeo-Arabic music traditions of the Middle East and North Africa including ancient Hebrew prayers, Jewish and Arabic music originated from Andalusia and preserved in North Africa and Israeli folk songs and their relation to Bedouin songs) is a world-music artist, composer and producer who has composed internationally for Film, TV, Dance and Theater. He has collaborated with Sufi master teacher Pir Zia Khan, Head of the International Sufi Order, with Turkish Sufi master musician Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Jewish-Moroccan master Rabbi Haim Louk and Israeli-Iraqi master Yair Dalal. Yuval is the musical director and oud player for The Yuval Ron Ensemble, which includes Arabic, Jewish and Christian artists who unites the sacred musical traditions of Judaism, Sufism and the Armenian Church into an unusual mystical, spiritual and inspiring musical celebration. The Yuval Ron Ensemble has been actively involved in creating musical bridges between people of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths. The ensemble was featured in the World Festival of Sacred Music in Los Angeles in 2002 and 2005 as well as in numerous venues and festivals worldwide since 2000. Yuval Ron has produced field recordings in the Sinai Desert with the Bedouins and produced the album "One Truth - A Window into the Divine Passion and Poetry of Sufism". His other recordings include "Under the Olive Tree", "In Between the Heartbeat", "One", "Proteus" and “Tree of Life”. Yuval has extensive experience in working with choreographers, collaborating with Daniel Ezralow (choreographer of ISO and the American Repertory Ballet), Zen priest Hirokazu Kosaka and Butoh master Oguri as well as with film directors such as Ari Sandel, David Lebrun and Jeremy Kagan. He is also a noted lecturer and has been invited to speak at numerous schools including: UCLA, John Hopkins University, Brandeis University, MIT, Berklee College of Music, UCSD, Jerusalem Film School (Israel), and many others. A recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, American Composers Forum, California Council for the Humanities and the Rockefeller Foundation among others, Yuval was awarded many awards including Los Angeles Treasures Award in 2004 and an Oscar for the musical film West Bank Story in 2006. For more information about Yuval Ron please visit: www.yuvalronmusic.com.

HAMID SAEIDI (ensemble) studied santur (Persian Hammered Dulcimer) with famed Master Madjid Kiani. Saeidi's amazing technique, emotional depth and innovative improvisations led him to pursue a degree in music from The Iranian Academy of the Arts studying composition under Masters Farhad Fakhredini and Vartan Sahakian. As an internationally lauded performer, Saeidi has performed in Iran, Greece, Ireland, Germany, Turkey and the United States. He has composed music for over 30 diverse films, television programs, dance and theatrical presentations including "Javdanegi" by Farshad Fereshtehekmat, "Afsaneh Saheleh Tareek" by Reza Davari, " Letters from Tentland " by Helena Waldman and the dance presentation "Avazhick" at the celebrated Theatre Shahr in Tehran, Iran.  Just recently, he completed composing the soundtrack for the film "Baran Dar Aftab" by Farshad Fereshteh Hekmat.  His works have received awards at the Beirut film festival (2002), the Iran TV Festival (2002-2004-2007) and the Society of Critics of Theater in Iran (2005). Hamid Saeidi is currently touring the U.S. with world music recording artist Mamak Khadem, as well as the world-famous and award winning Turkish artist, Omar Faruk Tekbilek. 

DROR SINAI (drum ensemble) is an international performer, educator, and guest artist, as well as the Founder of Rhythm Fusion, Inc. in Santa Cruz, CA. In 2002, he received the Gail Rich award for supporting the arts, and is a founding member of the World Music Committee for the Percussive Arts Society.

Dror has performed as a solo artist and has appeared in ensembles of many different musical styles, with other talented artists, including Yair Dalal, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Yuval Ron, Alessandra Belloni

Dror has presented lectures, clinics, and workshops to diverse audiences, including Universities, schools, community gatherings, children, and adults, and has taught both professionals and amateurs; he has been a featured instructor for Spectra of the Santa Cruz Arts Council, and gave clinics at the PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention).Has been working for world peace as a way of life and taught and performed on the "Peace Boat". Dror loves to share his joy of music with all people. His expertise and his warm, joyful approach will help put music-lovers of every experience-level at ease, inspiring a path to musical expression

"Rhythm is all around us, in everything we see, we touch, we breathe With rhythm, we shall achieve better communication and understanding among ourselves and all people: all people as one." ~ Dror Sinai

For our kids, for the kids in us, for harmony, for social and community activities, for self-empowerment, for amateurs, for professionals, for music, for therapy, for the Spirit, and fun! ~With Rhythms of Harmony~

ROWAN STORM (Persian frame drum - dayereh, daf, tambourine) has been studying, recording, performing and teaching a wide range of Middle Eastern percussion instruments for over 25 years throughout the United States, Central America, Europe, Turkey, and Iran. She has collaborated with some of the greatest masters of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern music, including Michel Mirhige, Mohammed el-Akkad, Taksim Ensemble of New York City, Pedro Bacan, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Necati Celik, Ross Daly, Kostas Papadopoulos, Khalifeh Rahmeh, and Lian Ensemble. Since 2000 Rowan has been studying and performing in concert tours with the legendary master of Persian Classical music, Mohammad Reza Lotfi.

Rowan's concert venues include New York City’s Lincoln Center, Central Park Summer Stage, New York University; Conference for Islamic Studies, New York Council for the Humanities; San Diego State University; Asian Art Museum of San Francisco; conservatories and concert halls throughout Switzerland, Spain and Germany; Istanbul’s Reshid Rey Concert Hall; Ankara’s Middle East Technical University; Epidauros.and other ancient amphitheaters throughout Greece and Cyprus.

Living in Greece and Switzerland since 1993, Rowan is a leader in the contemporary movement within Greek music and culture to embrace shared Oriental heritage. Recently Rowan spent three months traveling alone throughout Iran, deepening her understanding of Persian Classical music, the role of women in ancient, sacred percussion traditions, as well as the evolution of Western culture based on countless elements from the East. For some of her Iran travels, see her weblog, http://iran-rowanstorm.blogspot.com/.

AFIF TAIAN (Arabic oud) was born near Homs, Syria in 1974, and developed an early interest in the oud. He began to teach himself the oud at the age of 15, and eventually enrolled at the Institute of Music in Homs. He graduated as a music teacher at the age of 19. In 1995 he moved to Santa Barbara, California, where he played with the University of California Arabic Musical Ensemble. In 2000 he moved to Los Angeles, where he lives today with his wife Dina and daughter Lindsey. Afif currently performs with the Kan Zaman ensemble under the direction of Wael Kakish.

ERGUN TAMER (maqam and saz) was born in Izmir, Turkey and has been living in the U.S. for over 20 years. He is an accomplished singer as wall as instrumentalist and has been a featured soloist with the AMAN Folk Ensemble.

OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK (ney and zurna) A virtuoso on several Middle Eastern instruments and a masterful performer on dozens more, Omar Faruk Tekbilek is a man of vast experience. He started performing at the age of 12 in his native Turkey studying under some of the greatest Turkish musicians. During the 60's he established himself as one of the world's foremost performers of Middle Eastern music. His appearances with jazz musicians Don Cherry and Karl Berger, and his work on numerous film and TV scores attest to his leadership status among contemporary Middle Eastern musicians. His recordings include the soundtrack for Suleyman The Magnificent for PBS Television, Firedance with jazz guitarist Briane Keane, and Whirling on the Celestial Harmonies label.

MURAT TEKBILEK (Turkish darbuka) Murat was born in a family of musicians. Since the age of 5, he has studied with his father Faruk and his uncle Ibrahim Turmen (another master musician) and became a master darbuka, def, bendir and daire player. He has performed in numerous concerts and camps all over the USA. Now, he plays percussion with his father's band.