Give your child the gift of Arabic music! 

The fall session starts on September 18th, and ends on November 6.  The fall session will culminate in a public performance on November 14th in Oakland.  All classes, unless otherwise indicated, are on Saturdays, 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Arab American Cultural Center of the Silicon Valley (AACC/SV) at Houge Park, Building #2, 3952 Twilight Drive, San Jose, CA 95124.

The Aswat Youth program was founded in January 2009 to allow youths of any nationality to learn and experience Arabic music through singing and playing instruments.  Designed specifically for children as young as 5 and as old as 18, the program offers lessons in tabla (hand drum), ’oud (middle eastern lute), qanun (zither), nay (end-blown wooden flute), and violin.  The program is directed by Dr. Guilnard Moufarrej who holds a ph.D. in ethnomusicology from UCLA, and is a performing member of the Aswat Ensemble.  The instructors of Aswat Youth include accomplished percussionist Loay Dahbour, and seasoned musicians Husain Dixon Resan and Younes El Makboul, all performing members of the Aswat Ensemble.

Registration forms are available at this link.  Please bring your filled out form to the first day of class on September 18th.  For questions or concerns, please email info@zawaya.org.  See you there!

Now more than ever,  ASWAT needs your support!  Take action and support the national vanguard of Arabic culture.

With a minimum donation of $50, we will send you an acknowledgement of your tax-deductible gift and the 10th Year Anniversary Commemorative DVD chronicling the life of Aswat from its humble beginnings to its latest incarnation as a cultural force in the Bay Area and beyond.  The DVD contains the entirety of Aswat’s sold-out May 8th Concert directed by Rachid Halihal, which includes the heartrending performance of guest artist May Nasr. 

Print and fill in the DVD order form, and mail together with the check.

Make check payable to ZAWAYA, and mail to the following address:

ZAWAYA – Aswat DVD 2010

3150  18th ST.  MAILBOX #505

SAN FRANCISCO    CA 94110

Thank you!  Your continued support allows Zawaya and Aswat to organize and present quality programs .

Save the date! Let Aswat take you on a breathtaking musical odyssey through the Arab World for one night.  Under the direction of Moroccan virtuoso Rachid Halihal, listen to a dazzling repertoire that features the rich textures and flavors of Andalusian, Egyptian, Khaliji, Lebanese, North African, Palestinian, and Yemeni music performed by an amazingly diverse ensemble united by their love of Arabic music. The night’s special guest is Lebanese artist May Nasr whose music has rapidly gained an international following with its message of peace ensconced in cool, plaintive vocals and guitar. Tickets are available on brownpapertickets.com.

CLICK HERE for the registration form.

ASWAT at the deYoung

Aswat welcomes the new year with a FREE concert!

Rachid Halihal

 In 2010, ASWAT will venture into the musical territory of North Africa under the direction of Rachid Halihal, Moroccan virtuoso. Rachid studied Western classical and Andalus music at the Conservatory of Music in Fez, Morocco.  In addition to his voice, which is best featured in the Andalus style, his strongest instruments are the oud and the violin, which he plays in both the classical manner and upright- resting on the knee for Moroccan folkloric music. Rachid has performed internationally to diverse audiences, and is looking forward to working with ASWAT to serenade the Bay Area with North African-flavored Arabic Music.

The Bay Area’s first taste of Aswat under the direction of Halihal, who brings with him the classical Egyptian repertoire, will be at the de Young Museum on Friday, January 29, 2010 as part of the Cultural Encounters at the de Young and Friday Nights at the de Young.  Aswat will be performing as a musical complement to the exhibit on Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, and will showcase the Egyptian influences of North African music.

Friday Nights at the de Young is free and open to all, unless otherwise noted.  For more details, please visit de Young’s online event calendar.

Zawaya and the Arab Cultural Center of the Silicon Valley present Aswat Youth Ensemble classes for the Fall ‘09 / Winter ‘10 Season under the direction of Aswat Ensemble musician, Dr. Guilnard Moufarrej.  Classes for Session II (January – February 2010) start on Saturday, January 9, 2010 in San Jose.  Private lessons in percussion, ‘oud, violin, and nay are also offered.  Classes are open to children ages 5 – 18 years old.   Aswat Youth Ensemble will be featured in concert on March 2010. To enroll, please fill out the registration form and submit to Zawaya with payment.  We are accepting applications now.

Experience the romance and magic of Arabic music with ASWAT in concert at Theater Artaud as part of Golden Thread’s ReOrient Forum.

The concert is on Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 4:00 p.m at 450 Florida Street, San Francisco.  For more details, please visit http://www.goldenthread.org/reforum.htm. 

Tickets are available at Brownpapertickets.

Join Zawaya for an evening of intimate conversation with renowned chef, award-winning TV host, author, musician, & international man of mystery BOBBY CHINN on Monday, November 16, 2009.  7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at  142 Presidio Ave., San Francisco, CA 94115.

Chinn, who is Egyptian-Chinese, authored “Wild, Wild East“, which will be available for sale and signing at the venue.

$25 tax-deductible donation at the entrance (cash or check only; no credit cards). 

Limited seating available.  RSVP by Sunday evening to zawaya.admin@gmail.com
 For inquiries, please email info@zawaya.org

www.arabheritagesf.com

Hosted by the Office of Mayor Gavin Newsom, Aswat performed at the proclamation of San Francisco’s Arab Heritage Month at SF City Hall.  With the direction of Guest Musical Director Michael Ibrahim, the Aswat ensemble performed Adduka al-Mayyas, Bil-ladhi Askarra, ‘Ala Baladi al-Mahbub, Tayr al-Wirwar, and Ya Asmar il-lon infront of a crowd of around 600 invited guests.