photography: Shmulik Balmas

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Multi-Cultural Middle Eastern World Music Ensemble [email protected] +972-525-999-161

www.diwansaz.com Diwan Saz is a multicultural Jewish ,Christian & Muslim group of musicians who perform ancient music from Central Asia, , Persia, and the Holy Land - promoting peace and understanding through music. Diwan Saz marries together two great traditions that coexist in the Holy Land - Hebrew and Arab music, The songs are sung together by Rabbi David Menachem , Hamudi Gadir, Tzipora El Rei, lubna sallame & Amir shahsar whose powerful voices, rising at times above the instruments, demands almost undivided attention. Music of peace: The Daly Lama was once asked how to end the conflict between nations and people. He answered, “Through music - playing, learning, and teaching together”. The Diwan Saz Interfaith Ensemble embodies this philosophy photography: Andy Alpern through its repertoire of authentic folk and classical music of the Middle East performed by some of the most respected musicians in the region. The ensemble, led by Musical Director and Baglama musician Yohai Barak, has performed in festivals and venues ”But the most inspiring and quite symbolic performance throughout Europe, , India and several prestigious of the night, was given by the Diwan Saz. A group which festivals in the United States and Canada including The South embodies the ideals of the Festival - diversity and mutual By Southwest Music Festival - Austin Texas. As musicians, respect. Diwan Saz marries together two great traditions artists and teachers Diwansaz combine their many years that coexist in the Holy Land - that of Jewish and Muslim of commitment to their art and their communities to bring a music …A true music of peace and harmony. To see a rabbi “world-class” level of music that exemplifies the power music and muezzin dance together on stage, that’s as good a has to unite people of different faiths and backgrounds. miracle as you can witness”. (Krakow music festival) Yochai Barak Mumin Sesler (Saz/Baglama, Musical Director) (, ) Yochai was the founder and creator Mumin Sesler was born in the Western of Diwan Saz. Studying and traveling Turkish city of Edirne-Kesan. His family throughout Europe, Israel, Turkey and was also musician. His father played India, Yochai has learned from and and his grandfather was a performed with noted musicians like Zourna master. Mumin started to study Ross Daly, Kelly Thoma, Kutla Khan music when he was 12 years old. As and Mehmed Erenler. Yohai has transformed Diwan Saz from a qanun and oud player, he has accompanied many famous a small group of students and friends, into one of the most singers such as Ibrahim Tatlises Sibel Can in Turkey as well gifted ensembles representing the music of the Middle and as and George Dalaras. Near East. Diwan Saz is a shining example of how cultures and peoples of all regions can unite in the dialog of music.

Amir Shahsar Rabbi David Menahem (Nay and Persian vocals) (Vocalist) Amir was born in Rashet, in 1964. Rabbi David Menachem is a musician He was born into a musical family. Amir and composer.Born in 1980, he studied the classical called . grew up in the old neighborhoods In spite of his family’s disapproval of of among cantors and him becoming a musician Amir went on Kabbalists. From a young age he to study traditional, classical singing. has performed with Iraqi musicians Amir arrived in Israel in 1989. A master of Iranian traditional from The Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and the singing and of the ney. During the last 17 years he has played Orchestra. Performing in concerts and festivals both in live and recorded with the best artists in Israel as well as Israel and abroad, Rabbi Menachem plays an active role guest artists from out of the country. He has accompanied in the revival of the world of Jewish Middle-Eastern music, Omar Faruk, Ross Dally, Micaelis Nicoladis, Jivan Gasparyen, and more than that he plays an important role in promoting and Yasmin Levy. peace in the middle east especially by gathering religious leaders from the area, promoting peace together. Eyal Luman (Percussion) Eyal received his first musical inspiration from his grandfather who was a famed pianist in the Czech Republic. He began his musical journey as a jazz and rock drummer, than became interested in the world of and Percussion and started playing the darbuka, , and rik. He studied Indian Tabla with Einav Baraam and with Steven Fine, with the legendary Israeli percussionist Zohar Fresco.

Rani Lorentz (Bass) Rani grew up in a musical family and began performing all over Israel as a bass player at the age of fifteen in his father’s band. He spent a year in South Africa studying the music of the continent and recorded an album dedicated to African Music. In 2004, Rani toured the World with the group “Sheva” and in 2011, toured India as part of the initiative of the Indian and Israeli Embassies. Rani has performed and recorded with dozens of Israeli artists including Dayan Kaplan and Mark Eliyahu. Lubna Salameh Udi Ben Knaan (Vocalist) (Lira) Born and raised in Haifa, Lubna A multi-instrumentalist, producer, demonstrated her singing abilities and musical explorer, Udi was well- at a young age, performing in school educated in Classical Western Music and various vocal competitions. In and Eastern Music. Born in the Negev 1997, Lubna joined the prestigious city of Beer Sheva, Udi began playing “Arabic Orchestra of Nazareth” as a guitar at the age of 15 and was patrt lead singer. She has performed internationally in Europe, of the legendary Israeli world music group, “Sheva”. Udi America, Jordan, Morocco and Palestine. studied the Varnasi Sitar Traditiion in India with Govinda Go Swami. In Greece, he studied saz, lira, and Afghan Rabbab with Ross Daly. His special love of Turkish and Greek Music is uniquely combined with his ability to fuse traditional and modern music together.

Muhammad Gadir Tzipporah El-Rei (Vocalist) (Vocalist) A traditional and folk Arabic singer, Tzipporah studied several singing only 14 years old, “Hamudi” as he styles at the “Academy of Eastern is affectionately called, seems to Music” in Jerusalem. Now focusing on possess the soul of an elder when Turkish singing of the Sufi-Baktashi he performs on-stage. Raised in the stream. Tzipporah sings with several Bedouin Tribe of Higarat, in a Northern ensembles including Ladino, Greek Galilee village, Muhammad grew up absorbing the spirit Rembetiko, and Traditional Turkish Music. Tzipporah lives and sounds of his tradition. As the winner of the Arab Idol in the Judean Desert where she is raising two children and Competition, he has gained fame and notice for his ability where she receives much of her inspiration. to express the musical traditions of his people.