KlezCalendar

"Thou music make my soul dance" Pir Zia Khan, Head of the International sufi Order
“… the music performed by Yuval Ron was food for the soul…” Eisha Maison, Peace Ministry, Agape Church
"Yuval Ron and friends are refreshing like an oasis in the desert." John H. Rauch, President Center for Jewish Creativity
" A powerful and deeply moving afternoon..." Judi Mitoma, Director, World Festival of Sacred Music, LA

Yuval Ron is a world-music artist, composer and producer who has composed internationally for Film, TV, Dance and Theater. He has collaborated with Sufi master teacher Pir Zia Khan, Head of the International Sufi Order, with Turkish Sufi master musician Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Jewish-Moroccan master Rabbi Haim Louk and Israeli-Iraqi master Yair Dalal. Yuval is the musical director and oud player for The Yuval Ron Ensemble, which includes Arabic, Jewish and Christian artists who unites the sacred musical traditions of Judaism, Sufism and the Armenian Church into an unusual mystical, spiritual and inspiring musical celebration. The Yuval Ron Ensemble has been actively involved in creating musical bridges between people of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths. The ensemble was featured in the World Festival of Sacred Music in Los Angeles in 2002 and 2005 as well as in numerous venues and festivals worldwide since 2000. Yuval Ron has produced field recordings in the Sinai Desert with the Bedouins and produced the album "One Truth - A Window into the Divine Passion and Poetry of Sufism". His other recordings include "Under the Olive Tree", "In Between the Heartbeat", "One", "Proteus" and “Tree of Life”. Yuval has extensive experience in working with choreographers, collaborating with Daniel Ezralow (choreographer of ISO and the American Repertory Ballet), Zen priest Hirokazu Kosaka and Butoh master Oguri as well as with film directors such as Ari Sandel, David Lebrun and Jeremy Kagan. He is also a noted lecturer and has been invited to speak at numerous schools including: UCLA, John Hopkins University, Brandeis University, MIT, Berklee College of Music, UCSD, Jerusalem Film School (Israel), and many others. A recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, American Composers Forum, California Council for the Humanities and the Rockefeller Foundation among others, Yuval was awarded many awards including Los Angeles Treasures Award in 2004 and an Oscar for the musical film West Bank Story in 2006. For more information about Yuval Ron please visit: www.yuvalronmusic.com.

Najwa Gibran is considered to be one of the finest Arabic female singers living today in the west. She is an expert of the Arabic traditional vocal technique called Mawal (an improvisational passage) and a skilled performer of Middle Eastern sacred and folk songs. She grew up in Haifa, Israel to a musical family of Christian Arabic heritage. Najwa began her musical training with her father Marun in Middle Eastern vocal techniques and Maqamatt (traditional Middle Eastern musical scales system) and later on studied piano at the Haifa conservatory. Starting at the age of 13 Najwa has sung professionally in various Arabic community events. After immigrating to Canada she continued her studies at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto where she studied voice. Najwa is the lead vocalist with Canada’s Arabesque Dance Company and the international world-music group The Yuval Ron Ensemble. She has been featured on the Cd’s ‘Oyoun’ (Arabesque Dance Company), ‘Wet’ (Boomtang) and on The Yuval Ron Ensemble CD’s "Under The Olive Tree" and "Tree of Life" as well as on the soundtrack for the film "Helen of Troy". Najwa has participated in numerous music festivals such as "A Concert for the Peace, Health, and Prosperity" (New York City), "Festival Of lights" (Toronto), "Holiday Of Holidays" (Israel), "Bridging the Silence" (Toronto), and the "Microfest" (Los Angeles) and concerts for promoting peace in the Middle East. For more information about Najwa Gibran please visit: www.yuvalronmusic.com.

Yeghish Manukian began his career in 1967 with the Armenian Federal Dance Ensemble and remained a member of that orchestra for three decades. He performs on four different instruments: duduk, zurna, shvi, and clarinet—and his repertoire extends from middle-Eastern traditional music to ancient sacred melodies to the contemporary world music styles. Yeghish has arguably developed the most charismatic sound and style among contemporary Armenian woodwind virtuosos and is known worldwide for his beloved song “Yeghish Bar” (featured on the soundtrack for Sally Potter’s film “Yes”). Yeghish’s haunting duduk playing commanded the soundtrack for the USA Network primetime mini-series, “Helen of Troy” and numerous other scores for film and TV. Over the last 35 years Yeghish captivated audiences worldwide and has established loyal fans in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the United States.