Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble Spring Concert

The Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble’s spring concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 30, in the Performing Arts Center will be shared with a special ensemble of guest artists performing Iranian music. 

The Iranian music ensemble will be comprised of director Bahram Osqueezadeh on santur (hammered box zither), Siamak Bozorgi on tar (long-necked waisted lute) and vocals, Arash Bahrololoomi on daf (frame drum with jingles) and percussion, and Javid John Mosadeghi on vocals. 

“Their set will be centered on Dastgah-e Rast Panjgah, one of the most intricate and expansive modal systems in Persian classical music; and will include improvisation, formal composed genres and call-and-response,” said Arab Music Ensemble Director Ken Habib. They will also showcase the works of artists, performers, composers and poets including Hafez, Houshang Ebtehaj, Maestro Parviz Meshkatian and Mohammad-Reza Lotfi, and conclude with a piece that coincides with the arrival of spring and Nowruz.

The Arab Music Ensemble will perform a variety of classic and popular pieces from Arab and interconnected cultures. An introductory instrumental piece composed by Habib will open the program and be followed by beloved songs by the seminal Egyptian composer, Sayyid Darwish. 

Also on the program will be Greek and Romanian songs and selections from illustrious artists, performers, composers and poets including, Abdel-Fattah Mustafa, Ali Ismael, Anton Pann, Badi` Khayri, Fairuz, Ismail Haqqi Bey, Mohamed Abdel-Wahab, Nikos Papazoglou, the Rahbani Brothers, Takis Simotas, Taroub, Yunis Al-Qadi and Ziad Rahbani for whom the ensemble is making a year-long tribute following his death in July.

San Luis Obispo dance director Jenna Mitchell will lead the dance troupe in original choreography that dialogues with the music in an ongoing collaboration that began shortly after the founding of the Arab Music Ensemble in 2006.

The Arab Music Ensemble is an orchestra and choir with vocal and instrumental soloists. Its membership represents a wide range of majors on campus and professions off campus.