Date: December 8, 2023 – 7:30 PM
Join us for an enchanting evening of improvisational Persian and Turkish music and Rumi poetry at the Vivid Reflections on Hope event. Immerse yourself in the mesmerizing melodies and soulful tunes that will transport you to distant lands.
Experience the rich cultural heritage of Persian and Turkish music as Dr. Çevikoğlu, Maestro Hossein Salehi, and Bobak Salehi take you on a journey filled with passion and emotion. This unique improvisational performance promises to captivate your senses and leave you with lasting memories.
Don’t miss out on this extraordinary event that celebrates the beauty of music and the power of hope. Grab your friends and family, and come join us for an unforgettable night of melodic bliss.
Date: December 8, 2023
Time: 7:30 PM PST
Location: Montavilla United Methodist Church, 232 SE 80th Ave, Portland, OR 97215
Buy Tickets: Tickets can be obtained at our Eventbrite Page.
About the Musicians:
Dr. Timuçin Çevikoğlu (bendir, ney and vocals)
Dr. Timuçin Çevikoğlu, Ph.D. Vocal artist, player of the ney, kudûm, and bendir, has a Ph.D. of Musical Science and is a researcher in Turkish music. Since 1986 Çevikoğlu has worked at the Turkish Ministry of Culture with various titles and positions, such as vocal and instrumental artist, ensemble vice-director (Konya Turkish Sufi Music Ensemble), conductor (Ankara State Classical Turkish Music Ensemble), and the General Director of Classical Turkish Music Research and Performance Ensemble (Ankara). After taking an active part in the establishment of state conservatories at Konya Selçuk (1994) and Afyon Kocatepe (1999) Universities, he worked at these institutions as instructor and chair of the department. Çevikoğlu has prepared music programs and documentaries on radio and TV, directed several audio recordings of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and participated in numerous concerts all over the world. He has published books on the Mevlevî music tradition. He received his M.A. (1999) and Ph.D. (2010) in the field of Music Education and Musical Sciences at Selçuk University, Konya. He continues as a performer on the Ministry of Culture’s staff, artistic director and lead musician of the Meshk Ensemble, and as a researcher in the field of Mevlevî music.
Maestro Hossein Salehi (santoor)
Born in 1949 in Tehran, Iran, Maestro Salehi was exposed to traditional Iranian music by his father, Maestro Abbas Salehi, a master violinist. At age seven, Hossein became enamored with the shimmering sound of the Santoor (Persian hammered dulcimer) and began teaching himself to play, along with learning music fundamentals from his father. Later, he studied with some of Iran’s most renowned musicians. Nearly 55 years after striking his first notes, Maestro Salehi’s main goal is to pass on the music he has worked so hard to preserve, and to share his knowledge with those who show a genuine interest in the performing arts. He teaches Santoor, Daf (frame drum), Tombak (goblet drum) and improvisation techniques, and oversees a variety of musical projects over the course of an average year. Throughout his musical career, Maestro Salehi has been the recipient of many awards. In 1998, the Oregon Historical Society recognized Maestro Salehi as a master artist on the Santoor and Persian Music. In 2009, Maestro Salehi founded ArtMax Academy. This non-profit organization has evolved into a platform through which he – and many of his students – have shared their art, and provided the Portland community with a source for enrichment, education, collaboration, and creative endeavors.
Bobak Salehi (kamancheh, violin, tar, setar)
Bobak’s musical journey began at age 8, under the direction of his father Maestro Hossein Salehi, and continued with Maestro Davood Ganjei on the violin. In college, he explored the folk music of Latin America, North India, Southern Spain, and North Africa. In 1999 the Oregon Historical Society recognized him as a Master Artist. He has studied Kamancheh (Spiked Fiddle) with crossover recording artist Kayhan Kalhor of Yoyo Ma’s Silk Road Project. He has written and recorded several film and theatrical scores, including a collaborative project with Niloufar Talebi called “Nowruz: Persian Rite of Spring”. Most recently, he joined the Hamsaz Ensemble in Seattle, for the North America debut of the historic works of Abdul-Qadir Maraqi, alongside renowned composer and multi-instrumentalist Ali Samadpour. Bobak has performed with many touring artists and ensembles, including Seffarine, Al-Andalus, Kamand Ensemble, Portland Youth Philharmonic, The Oregon Symphony, and Pink Martini.
Dr. Behnam Compani-Tabrizi (percussion)
Dr. Behnam Compani-Tabrizi, an American born percussionist currently living on the west coast. His formal education primarily resides within the disciplines of molecular biology, biochemistry and computer science. He received his Computer Science doctorate specializing in Informatics for Biology and Medicine from the University of California, Irvine in 2012. When he was a young man Behnam was introduced to playing tombak by his grandfather, Akbar, and he subsequently was able to train with Pejman Hadadi for a time. Behnam has also pursued the study of several other percussion styles and instruments from cultures around the world.
