Al-Bustan is pleased to present TWO concerts this Spring at Trinity Center for Urban Life!
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind musical exchange among these talented musicians in an afternoon of improvisations.
Issam Rafea – oud | Gao Hong – pipa | Hafez Kotain – percussion
Date: SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2019
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: TRINITY CENTER FOR URBAN LIFE – 22nd and Spruce St, Philadelphia
Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at door | $10 with student ID
Issam Rafea
Winner of the 2010 “Best Composer Award” in Dubai International Film Festival (Muhr Arab) in the film “Matar Ayloul,” “September Rain,” Rafea was the Chair of the Arabic Music Department at High Institute of Music in Damascus and the principal conductor of Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music from 2003 to 2013. While in Syria, Rafea was an active composer and arranger for TV and Theater since the 90s. Rafea collaborates internationally with groups like “Gorillaz” arranging five works that were performed by the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music. It was recorded in Damascus Opera house. Rafea is co-founder and oudist for the contemporary Arabic music group Hewar, which has performed in UAE, Egypt, Germany, UK, France, Japan, and USA. In 2011 and 2012 the group participated in the Morgenland Festival in Osnabrueck, Germany. Rafea also founded “Twais Quartet,” a group that performs both original compositions by Rafea and traditional Arabic music works. He is currently Visiting Teacher/Artist in the Department of Music for 2017 Spring Term at Carleton College, MN.
Gao Hong
Gao Hong, Chinese pipa player and composer, graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing where she studied with pipa master Lin Shicheng. She has received numerous awards and honors, including First Prize in the Hebei Professional Young Music Performers Competition, a Beijing Art Cup, an Asian Pacific Award. She has performed throughout Europe, Australia, Argentina, Japan, Hong Kong, China, and the United States, and has participated in the Lincoln Center Festival and San Francisco Jazz Festival, and in international festivals in Paris, Caen, Milan, and Perth. As a composer, Gao has received commissions from the American Composers Forum, Walker Art Center, the Jerome Foundation, Zeitgeist, Ragamala Dance Theater, Minneapolis Guitar Quartet, Theater Mu, IFTPA, and Twin Cities Public Television. In 2016, Gao Hong completed the first pipa method book ever written in English and had it published by Hal Leonard, the world’s largest print music publishing company. She teaches Chinese musical instruments and directs the Carleton Chinese Music Ensemble and the Global Music Chamber Ensemble at Carleton College in Minnesota.
Experience rhythmic traditions from different cultures as these musicians share their talents together
Date: SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2019
Time: 8:00 PM
Location: TRINITY CENTER FOR URBAN LIFE – 22nd and Spruce St, Philadelphia
Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at door | $10 with student ID
Hafez Kotain
Hafez Kotain is a master percussionist fluent in both Arab and Latin rhythms–a fluency he honed in his native countries of Syria and Venezuela. In 2013 he received a Pew Fellowship in the Arts, a prestigious award given to Philadelphia artists of exemplary talent. Born in Venezuela of Syrian heritage, he grew up in Syria until the age of 16 years. He began playing the doumbek at the age of seven years, made his first stage performance at nine years, and went on to study with master Syrian percussionist Hady Jazan, winning the national percussion competitions in Syria for five consecutive years.
Jim Hamilton
Jim Hamilton’s percussive origins have their roots in tap dance having grown up, literally, in his parent’s dance studio. His physical approach to rhythm or what he calls “Rhythm Poetry” stems from this early beginning. His current project called B.r.U.s. brings into focus, the combined rhythmic traditions of both the U.S. and Brazil through the language of tap. He was a founding member of The Spoken Hand Ensemble, recipients of many grants including a Rockafeller grant for composition. He has appeared on the Grammy’s several times and has made appearances on the World Music Awards with multiple world tours with various artists.
Hyun Jin Cha
Hyun Jin Cha is a soloist and Korean ensemble musician. She was a former member of the famous Korean music band Dulsori from 1998-2016. Hyun Jin has performed at many festivals, concerts and collaboration with international music and dance artists in multi-disciplinary projects as an ensemble musician. She is also active in various fields such as festival workshops and lectures on traditional culture education. She is currently in Philadelphia and is working on a new challenge to interact with local artists and to make music activities more broad and free.
Terrell Johnson
Terrell Johnson, specializes in the West African Djembe orchestra, with expertise in Malian, Guinean and Ghanaian music. He was born and raised in Philadelphia where he studied and trained. At the age of three Terrell picked up the Djembe drum and honed the art-form. He began performing professionally at the age of fourteen, traveling and working with various dance and percussion companies including Troope Dada and Kulu Mele.
