Namād Ensemble
La Jolla Community Center
Friday, May 10, 2024 | 7:30 PM
Join us for an unforgettable evening of classical Persian music featuring Pejman Hadadi on percussion, Saeed Kamjoo on the kamānche, and Kourosh Taghavi on the setār. Dive into these timeless melodies and intricate rhythms as we explore the rich cultural heritage of this captivating musical tradition.
Tickets
General Seating: $35
VIP Seating: $50
Please purchase tickets online. These performances sell out well in advance. Tickets are transferrable but non-refundable.
Kourosh Taghavi
Kourosh Taghavi is a master of the setār, a prolific composer, and a teacher of Persian classical music. Based in San Diego since 1984, he has studied under the tutelage of the world-renowned virtuosi Mohammad Reza Lotfi and Hossein Alizadeh. These studies have been the source of his unique approach to the art of Iranian music.
Taghavi’s passionate and melodic approach to music is the foundation of his many collaborations and recordings with numerous artists, performing both traditional and modern forms of Iranian music. His collaborative projects with master musicians and international and local cultural organizations help fulfill his lifelong commitment to raising awareness of the importance of music in people’s lives.
Kourosh teaches setar and voice throughout California, as well as lecturing, composing original music for plays and pieces based on contemporary Iranian poetry, holding music workshops, and recording. These and numerous other endeavors are expressions of his passionate quest to promote Persian classical music. As a San Diego State University faculty member, Kourosh taught a course in Persian classical music and oversaw a related thesis. His ongoing collaboration with the Center for World Music as a teaching artist in residence brings Persian music to schools across San Diego through weekly classes and occasional performances.
Kourosh is also a founding member of Namād Ensemble, with which he has toured throughout the US, Europe, and Asia. His collaborations with renowned master artists such as Hossein Omoumi, poets Robert Bly and Coleman Barks, and prestigious cultural organizations such as the Konya Mystic Music Festival (Turkey), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the San Diego Museum of Art, and the Carlsbad and Del Mar Music festivals are a few highlights of his efforts to introduce Persian classical music and poetry to a broad audience.
A parent of two children, Kourosh recognizes the significance of music in early childhood education. Fatherhood inspired Kourosh to explore and compose music for the youngest of audiences, as captured in the album Epiphany by the Namād Ensemble.
Pejman Hadadi
Pejman Hadadi is a highly innovative Iranian percussionist renowned for his expertise in tombak and daf, traditional Persian percussion instruments. His musical journey began at the age of 10 under the guidance of the masters Assadollah Hejazi and Bahman Rajabi. Immigrating to the US in 1989, Hadadi embarked on a professional career in 1991, collaborating with various ensembles and ultimately joining the acclaimed Dastan Ensemble in 1995. In 2000, he co-founded ZARBANG, the first Iranian percussion ensemble, which received international recognition.
Hadadi’s collaborations extend globally, including performances with renowned musicians and exploration of rhythms from diverse cultures. His distinct contributions to tombak playing include innovative techniques and the creation of custom frame drums. Notable achievements include a collaboration with REMO, enhancing the popularity of the daf worldwide. Beyond his performing career, Hadadi is an accomplished teacher, receiving the Durfee Foundation Master Musician Award twice. He founded the Neyreez World Music Institute in 1999 and currently serves as a visiting professor at UCLA’s Department of Ethnomusicology.
Saeed Kamjoo
Saeed Kamjoo, a skilled composer and kamanche player, adeptly merges tradition with innovation in his music. While deeply rooted in Persian classical music, Kamjoo explores new realms, uncovering fresh possibilities in his kamanche playing. He trained rigorously under masters like A. Kamkar, A. Shekarchi, and Ustad A. Bahari.
Having graduated from the University of Tehran, he delved into the study of old Persian musical manuscripts and ancient rhythmic modes. Kamjoo has showcased his talents in international festivals across North America and Europe, including appearances at Sound Symposium in Canada and Sacra Musica Festival in Germany. Since immigrating to Montreal in 1997, he has collaborated with creative ensembles worldwide and received grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.
This is the second concert of the series Mesmerizing Melodies from Three Ancient Lands. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter for more information about upcoming concerts.
Upcoming concerts in this series:
June 14th: Münir Beken: Discovering the Soul of Turkish Music
2024 CONCERT SEASON AMBASSADOR
Revitalized Affordable Housing Development
GRANT SUPPORT
Financial support was provided by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture.
