Join us for an marvelous evening of Arab Classical and Contemporary Music with exemplary musicians Hafez Kotain and Kinan Abou-afach of the Al-Bustan Takht Ensemble. Al-Bustan (Arabic for The Garden) promotes cross-cultural understanding of all ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds through artistic and educational programs. 

Featured musicians: 

• Kinan Abou-afach, a Syrian-born cellist, is a recipient of the 2013 Pew Fellowship in the Arts for his exemplary talent as a performer and composer.  He completed a Bachelors degree in cello performance with a minor in oud performance from the Higher Institute of Music in Damascus. He performed as a soloist with various orchestras in the Arab region and was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

• Hafez Kotain, a master percussionist fluent in both Arab and Latin rhythms, 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. Born in Venezuela of Syrian heritage, he grew up in Syria until the age of 16. He began playing the doumbek as a child and went on to study with master Syrian percussionist Hady Jazan, winning the national percussion competitions in Syria for five consecutive years.

Co-Presented by Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture

Monday, June 5, 2017, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Parkway Central Library, Grand Lobby
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-686-5316 
erefmus@freelibrary.org
facebook.com/FLPMusicDept

Accessibility: A wheelchair ramp is located at the Library’s Wood Street entrance.