A rare evening of Classical music of Iran at 'Listen to the World'

We are delighted to welcome Laleh Abassi and Ala Zarai to Listen to the World, in collaboration with Nava Arts for their performance, Souls Unveiled in a New Dawn.  With Laleh on ney and Ala on sehtar, the duo bring a bold, new presence to instruments long performed mostly by male musicians — offering audiences a fresh experience of Iran's rich musical traditions. Laleh and Ala have both performed many solo concerts but this will be the premiere of their performing together.  Please join us!

The concert will be in three parts; Solo Setar, Solo Ney and Sehtar and Ney Duet accompanied with tombak.

Laleh Abbasi - Ney

Laleh is an Iranian ney (upright reed flute) player with over 15 years of training and experience in classical Iranian music. She graduated in music from the University of Guilan in Northern Iran and is currently completeing a masters degree in Teaching piano at the University of Chichester.  Laleh has won several national awards including the 2013 Youth Festival Award for Solo Ney. She has collaborated with some of Iran’s most prominent ensembles, performing in numerous concerts and festivals both in Iran and Turkey.  Trained in solfège, harmony, and counterpoint Laleh is an established piano player and has taught extensively at the music schools in Sari, Iran.  Laleh is Currently studying for a master of Music Teaching at the University of Chichester.  

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq4uZgSA5l8/

Ala Zarei - Sehtar

Ala is an Iranian setar (4-string lute) player and ethnomusicologist specialising in classical Iranian music. She started learning music with setar at age 8 and studied it with prominent musicians, among them Mohammad Ali Kiani Nejad and Masoud Shaari. Ala completed her undergraduate studies in Music at the Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) and earned her Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology from SOAS University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies). In addition to her primary instrument, the setar, she is also interested in the music of Arab Mashreq and has studied the Syrian-Egyptian style of Oud performance with Tarek Abdallah. Ala has performed internationally, as a soloist and with varieties of ensembles and been recognised with awards from notable Iranian music festivals, including the Saba, Javan and Taknavazan.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DE0SE3SxYaP/