MAS Presents: Rahim AlHaj & Sourena Sefati (oud & santur: ancient roots, modern voice)
Tickets on sale August 7th, 2025 | All ages welcome
Doors @ 7:00 PM | Music @ 8:00 PM
The scorching wind lashes the dunes, sending spirals dancing. In the shimmering distance, a lone traveler raises an arm —beckoning you near.
RIYL: Ravi Shankar, Anouar Brahem, Naseer Shamma
Two-time Grammy-nominee and NEA National Heritage Fellow Rahim AlHaj is widely recognized as one of the world’s greatest living oud players. Born in Baghdad and trained under legendary oud master Munir Bashir, Rahim blends the ancient tradition of Iraqi maqam with bold, contemporary compositions that speak to themes of exile, hope, and human connection.
Forced to flee Iraq in 1991 for his political activism, Rahim resettled in the U.S. as a refugee and has since become an internationally celebrated artist. In 2015, he received the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor in the U.S. for traditional arts.
Rahim’s music has taken him to stages across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas, and his collaborations span genres and cultures — including projects with guitarist Bill Frisell, R.E.M’s Peter Buck, sarod player Amjad Ali Khan, and accordionist/composer Guy Klucevsek.
Rahim has released twelve acclaimed albums, including the Grammy-nominated albums When the Soul is Settled: Music of Iraq (2006) and Ancient Sounds (2009). His album, One Sky (2018) features Iranian santur master Sourena Sefati and Palestinian-American percussionist Issa Malluf, offering a powerful musical appeal for friendship and global solidarity.
Sourena Sefati is an accomplished Iranian composer and santur virtuoso, celebrated for his innovative approach to traditional Persian music and his cross-cultural collaborations. He is widely regarded as part of a new generation of artists redefining the boundaries of Iranian classical music.
Trained by Maestro Ardavan Kamkar, Sourena holds degrees in Iranian music, performance, and composition from leading institutions in Tehran and the University of New Mexico. As both a composer and performer, he has contributed to over sixty Iranian and international albums, including One Sky, Fandango at the Wall (recorded at the U.S.-Mexico border), and From Deceitful Ages, which earned him the Best Composition Award from the Iranian Music House in 2017. In 2022, he was awarded the Scott Wilkinson Composition Scholarship.
Blending tradition with contemporary technique, Sourena Sefati creates music that is both deeply rooted and globally resonant. He continues to expand the reach and relevance of Persian classical music on the world stage.
Rahim AlHaj, along with Sourena Sefati and Issa Malluf, makes good on his commitment to creating music that bridges cultural and sociopolitical divides. Filled with intoxicating waves of sound and brilliant melodies, it succeeds in spreading AlHaj's message of global understanding and love.” – Shorefire Media