Music Demonstration: Kinan & Hafez

Composer/Cellist Kinan Abou-afach and Percussionist Hafez Kotain lead a participatory demonstration inspired by the art installation.

Date: September 27, 2017

Time: 12:00 – 1:00pm

Location: Outdoor in Plaza

RSVP HERE

About Kinan & Hafez

Hafez Kotain is a master percussionist fluent in both Arab and Latin rhythms. 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. In Venezuela he studied percussion at the TMV Institute for Music in Valencia, where he also taught a variety of percussion styles blending Arab and Latino music to youth. He works with Al-Bustan throughout the year, teaching music at summer camp, weekly percussion classes at several Philadelphia schools, and a weekly percussion ensemble class at University of Pennsylvania. Hafez is a recipient of the prestigious 2013 Pew Fellowship in the Arts, which is awarded each year to 12 Philadelphia artists who are of exemplary talent.

Kinan Abou-afach, a Syrian-born cellist and composer, is a recipient of the 2013 Pew Fellowship in the Arts. He received his Bachelors degree in cello performance with a minor in oud performance from the Higher Institute of Music in Damascus. He relocated to Chicago in 2000 to pursue a master’s degree at the DePaul University School of Music. Kinan is also a composer, writing music that is influenced by Eastern and Western traditions. Al-Bustan has commissioned him for several new compositions, notably: Roads to Damascus with visual artist Kevork Mourad premiered in February 2013; {De}perception with digital artist Ayman Alalao premiered in May 2015, Of Night of Solace: Fantasia on Andalusian Muwashshah Poetry premiered in December 2015, and NUR: A Musical Journey in Sufi Poetry premiered in April 2016.