Join Al-Bustan for our at-home concert screening of The Songs We Carry: Middle Eastern and Venezuelan Memories and Melodies featuring Composer and Vocalist, Miriam Elhajli and Master Percussionist, Hafez Kotain.
Register for the event HERE
Check out the official concert teaser: Al-Bustan Songs We Carry Teaser
About the Artists:
Miriam Elhajli is a Venezuelan-Moroccan-American composer and vocalist whose work is influenced strongly by the folkloric musics of the Americas, modern jazz, and contemporary classical music. Elhajli grew up playing music of varying traditions on street corners and stages before studying at Berklee College of Music. Currently based out of Brooklyn, NY, she performs around town as a mime, puppeteer, and itinerant singer alongside working as a researcher at The Association for Cultural Equity founded by Alan Lomax. Elhajli’s debut record OBSERVATIONS (2020) and her follow-up THE UNCERTAINTY OF SIGNS (2021) are set to be released independently on Elhajli’s label Numina Records this year.
HAFEZ KOTAIN
Hafez Kotain is the Owner and Chief Executive Officer at Hafez Percussion Inc. Kotain is an accomplished master percussionist with fluency in both Arab and Latin rhythms. He 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. Kotain began studying the doumbek at the age of seven, first performed on stage at the age of nine, and went on to study with master percussionist Hady Jazan, winning the national percussion competitions in Syria for several years. Kotain first began his career as an educator, teaching a variety of percussion styles to dedicated students, musicians and music teachers. In 2010 and 2011, Kotain taught at the Arab Music Retreat led by the internationally acclaimed Arab music performer, Simon Shaheen. Hafez Percussion collaborates with many local and national artists and organizations to educate the community about his work. Throughout the year, Kotain teaches with Al-Bustan in various school and community-based programs, including a summer camp for youth. He also teaches 2 semester courses in percussion at the University of Pennsylvania.
