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ASWAT Choir was founded in San Francisco in January 2000. The founder, Nabila Mango, is a Palestinian American, who is tremendously dedicated and active in the Bay Area community, took the initiative to create this family for the mere love of Arabic Music.
The family grew, but the motive stayed the same. It is to enjoy the music, enhance the pride in the Arabic Heritage and introduce the beauty of that heritage to all neighbors in the community.
ASWAT is a community ensemble for classical and folk Arabic music. It performs Muwashahat (Arabic poetry, sung in the tradition of Andalusia, Spain) as well as traditional and contemporary songs from the Arab World. It features a talented group of musicians playing the Oud, Qanun, Violin, Daff, and Durbeck.
During its short life, Aswat has achieved a professional level of competence and has made appearances in numerous colleges, universities, festivals and conferences in the Bay Area and Seattle, including the Golden Gate Science Academy.
The group consists of about twenty singers and musicians from different parts of the world and welcomes anyone who is interested or even curious about Arabic music.
Aswat is part of ZAWAYA, a non-profit forum that provides instruction and presentation of Arabic art, poetry, literature, and all aspects of the culture.
To support Aswat with your presence, membership or encouragement is a most worthwhile step towards raising awareness of the rich Arabic Heritage and culture through the beauty of its music.
practice schedule for the upcoming season:
Every practice will be from 2-5 p.m.
2-3 musicians practice with Wael and Arabic with Lana/Nabila
3-5 ASWAT practice with Wael
Please keep in mind the following practice dates:
January 27- from 2-5 with Wael. Musicians: please arrive on time.
February 10
February 24
(Keep Saturday, February 23 after 7:30 p.m. open to celebrate Wael's birthday. More details to follow...)
March 9 with Wael
March 16 with Ala
March 23 Easter-No practice
March 30 with Wael
April 13 with Wael
April 27 with Wael
May 4 with Wael
May 18
May 30 (Friday evening) with Wael
CONCERT on May 31 at College of San Mateo, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Please take note of all dates. A calendar will be distributed at practice also.
Classical & Folkloric Arabic Music by ASWAT
ASWAT is directed now by Wael Kakish, the artistic director of Kan Zaman in LA.
Aswat is planning its next concert at the College of San Mateo on Saturday, December 1, 2007.
If you would like to join Aswat as a volunteer, if you play an instrument, or like to sing, now is the time to get involved in the Bay Area's Only Arabic Music Ensemble. We will teach you the music and singing in Arabic; no prior experience necessary for vocalists.
The group rehearses approximately every other Sunday. Practices run
from 2-5 PM, preliminary session at 2 p.m. is held to train non-Arabic-speaking
vocalists in the Arabic lyrics and pronunciation.
Rehearsals are held at the Arab Cultural Center, 2 Plaza Avenue in San Francisco.
Parking is plentiful and it is also accessible by public transportation.
Rehearsal for the December 1st concert are scheduled on:
Sunday, August 5, 12, and 26
Sunday, September 9 and 23
Sunday, October 7 and 21
Sunday, November 4, 18, and Friday, November 30
We have opening for vocalists & instrumentalists who can play violin, viola, cello, oud, percussion, and qanun.
And remember, you don't have to speak Arabic and you don't have to be
an Arab. We'll teach you what you need to know.
For further information contact nabila@sbcglobal.net
Past Performances of ASWAT
| October 22, 2000 |
Arab Cultural Festival - Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California. |
| February 10, 2001 |
California Academy of Science, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California. |
| April 22, 2001 |
Arab Cultural Center Banquet - Spanish Cultural Center, San Francisco, California. |
| May 15, 2001 |
Norte Dame College of San Mateo, Belmont, California. |
| June 2, 2001 |
Lailat Tarab. San Jose State University - Music Concert Hall, San Jose, California. |
| July 14-15, 2001 |
Arab Festival - Seattle, Washington. |
| April 20, 2002 |
Arab American Cultural Night, San Jose, California. |
| October 13, 2002 |
Arab Cultural Festival - Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California. |
| November 9, 2002 |
Layali Ramadan; a concert of Sayyid Darwish Songs. College Heights United Church of Christ. San Mateo, California. |
| November 30, 2002 |
Tenderloin Iftar - San Francisco. |
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for more information, email info@zawaya.org
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ZAWAYA
311 - 41st Avenue, San Mateo, California 94403. Phone: 650-341-3697
email:info@zawaya.org
Copyright © 2003, ZAWAYA. All rights reserved.
Last Revised:1/24/2008
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