Afra Ensemble ( Iranian Folk and Traditional Music Concert in Bay Area)

Music is an important element of a nation's cultural identity as well as an integral part of understanding the history and culture of the people of a region. AFRA Ensemble led by maestro Hossein Behrouzinia consists of musicians who have dedicated their lives to introducing the richness of Iranian traditional and folk music to the world.

This concert features the richness and color inherent in Iranian classical music as well as music from Lorestan, Mazandaran, and Khorasan. AFRA ensemble features Hossein Behrouzinia on Oud, Moslem Alipour on Vocals and kamancheh, Fahime Mousavi on Vocals, Hamid Behrouzinia on Tar, and Nariman Assadi on percussion.

The concert will begin at 7:30 pm, but doors will open at 7 pm. Tickets are available on Eventbrite and by contacting Nariman Assadi (530-574-4636 or narimanpercussion@gmail.com)

Concert includes two parts with a 15 mins intermission in between.

For anyone who is interested in donating or sponsoring please contact Nariman Assadi by telephone at

(530) 574-4636 or by email at

narimanpercussion@gmail.com

About the Artists

Hossein Behrouzinia

Hossein Behroozinia is a renowned Iranian oud player and arguably the greatest oud player of all times. He studied oud, playing under the supervision of maestro Mansour Nariman. Behrooznia also learnt the Radif under the supervision of the legendary Mohammad Reza Lotfi.

He was a student at the Conservatory of Persian music, and later the music Director of Ensemble Khaleghi as well as the Director of music Education at the Center of the Preservation Persian music. The L.A. Times describes maestro Behroozinia's work as "spectacular musicianship". [1] In 2003 the Ministry of Culture of Iran decorated him with its highest honor, the "First Order of Arts".

Hossein Behroozinia was born on June 11, 1962 in Tehran, Iran with a heart and soul for music. At the early age of nine he was accepted into Tehran's Conservatory of Music, where the roots of his love for the Tar, under the supervision of Reza Vohdaney, and the Oud under the guidance of Mansour Nariman, germinated. Soon, eagerness and aptitude awarded him the chance to advance his cultivation by being introduced to the Persian radif (repertoire) of Mirza Abdullah by the famed Mohammad Reza Lotfi.

Behroozinia's blossoming talent became apparent immediately, so much so, that even as a young man, seventeen, he was asked to instruct at the prestigious Centre of Preservation and Propagation of Music, where he flourished. Opportunities and advancements promptly ensued and he humbly accepted the position of Director of Music Production, followed by Director of Music Education, which evolved into Chairman of the Board. Even though demands on his time were vast, Behroozinia never forgot the joy of learning and offered to teach the ancient lute at Tehran's Conservatory to enthusiastic apprentices. To this day, and still handcuffed by a demanding schedule, he opens his doors to the hopes of other young protégés.

His chronology not only embraces the educational aspect of the art for as well he has traveled intensely throughout Europe, Asia, and North America performing numerous sold out concerts before enthralled audience with various prominent music ensembles including the artistic Ensemble Aref and the brilliant Ensemble Mowlana. Since 1992, Behroozinia exclusively lends his talents, as one of its leading members, to the gifted Dastan Ensemble.

Fortune bestowed upon him the privilege to collaborate with many of the eminent voices of our legacy, the likes of, Mohammad Reza Shajarian, Shahram Nazeri, Parisa, Sima Bina, Iraj Bastami and Ali-Reza Eftekhari. Integrated amongst the aforementioned accomplishments are publications of two etudes for the Barbat and numerous recorded works encompassing: Barbat, Kouhestan, Yadestan, Vajd, Dastan Trio and scores of accompaniments on: Bamdad, Booy-e-Norouz, Ofogh-e-Mehr, Sarv-e-Simin, Sfar Be digar Sou, Saz-e-Nou Avaz-e-Nou, Hanaee, Shab Sokoot Kavir, Shourideh and Gol-e Behehsht.

Countless distinguished members of our cultural society regard Behroozinia as a leading figure in the preservation of Iran’s traditional music. Consequentially in 2003 the Ministry of Culture decorated him with its highest honor, the “First Order of Arts”.

Fahimeh Mousavi

Fahimeh Mousavi was born on May 26, 1986 in Amol, Mazandaran province, Iran. In her early teenage ages, she became interested in Iranian classical music and started to take vocal lessons with Maestro Gholamreza Rezaei. After a few years, she found her took lessons in vocal from Maestro Ms. Parisa, one of the most reputable and well-known singer of Iranian classical music.

She also have been active in the field of Mazandaran's folk music, where she was born, and took lessons of old folk songs from prominent vocalists of this province, namely Maestro Noorollah Alizadeh and Maestro Abol-hasan Khoshrou. She also performed and recorded a few performances with Maestro Hossein Behroozinia.

Fahimeh Mousavi is currently studying towards an associate degree in Iranian classical vocal.

Moslem Alipour

Moslem Alipour, a virtuoso kamancheh player, composer, singer, and one of the most active contemporary musicians, has had a 30-year career in the field of music and performance, standing among the world's finest.

In 2020 and 2021, he was twice awarded at the Global Awards Music America festival. He has captivated audiences in many countries with his music performances, with his most notable performances including the Silk Road, conducted by Tan Dun, one of the world's renowned composers, and an UNESCO performance named "Mozart Day" alongside the world's best in France.

He has composed 20 albums catering to diverse audiences. Currently residing in Virginia, USA, Moslem Alipour leads a music band. He is passionate about creating film music and collaborating with professional groups.

Hamid Behrouzinia

Hamid Behrouzinia started Tar training from age 8 under mentor of his uncle “Hossein Behrouzinia” And his training continued by Mohammad Reza Ebrahimi. Then he entered the Conservatory of Music therefore he could train under mentor of popular teachers such as Mr. Hamid Shojaee and Mohammad Reza Ebrahimi. After his graduation that he developed his Tar trainig by Houshang Zarif, Arshad tahmasebi and Dariush Pirniakan. And also learned Tombak under mentor of Siamak Banayi.

Behrouzinia not only won second place of Iran Music Festival in 1995, but also won the first place of the Iran Music Festival in Solo in 1996. The past years he has worked as a musician and composer in many concerts in Iran, Asia, Europe and Canada with youth groups, Akhavan, Tolou, Salk, Qalandar, chopi, Khonia, Taal, Ghamar and Lotus.

He has been the director and composer of Lotus Band.

He as a supervisor performed a concert with ‘Tolou Band’ in Dubai in 2002 and he had a tour concert in Europe with ‘Khonia Band’ as a composer in 2005 and he performed in Germany, France, Swiss and Netherlands which the most important one was the performance in UNESCO Summit Hall.

Then he performed some concerts and held some classes in Vancouver, Canada in 2007 and he released the album ‘ Child of Iran’ by Sina Sarlak in 2009 and this album was chosen by Music House as the candidate of the best musical album in 2010. After that he had some concerts with Avang Band in Russia and Denmark.

Nariman Assadi

Nariman Assadi is an Iranian musician. Raised in Tehran, he always felt drawn to percussion instruments. At the age of thirteen, he began studying Tombak under Master Amir Mogharab Samadi. From 2008 to 2013, Nariman performed at Vahdat Hall as a soloist and with the Persian Percussion Ensemble at Pars Academy, the premier music academy for children. After mastering Tombak, he then began learning Daf under the great Master Bijan Kamkar. With a strong understanding of the Daf and Tombak, Nariman started learning Barbat (Oud) under Master Mohammad Firouzi.

In 2015, Nariman immigrated to the United States. He immediately began his professional music career by performing and attending festivals. Along with being a member of various ensembles, Nariman is a certified-Orff teacher and teaches Daf, Tombak, and Music for children.

In 2022, he toured all over the United States with Afra Ensemble, led by Master Hossein Behrouzina. Additionally, Nariman relaeasd his first album Larzanah, Improvisation of Iranian Folk Music, with Master Faraj Alipour on vocals and Kamancheh.

Currently, he teaches Iranian Music at Farsi Schools in Sacramento and the Bay Area. He also teaches music at more than seven elemantary schools in Sacramento.

Learn more at Nariman's website: www.narimanpercussion.com