Friday, March 20
7:00-9:00 pm
(doors open at 6:30 pm)
FREE
Join us for an evening of Persian culture in celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. We are pleased to welcome the Persian Classical Trio (musicians Pezhham Akhavass, Aryan Rahmanian, and Ashkan Ghafouri), and the Pezhham Tombak Ensemble to the OACC stage. They dedicate their performance to the cherished memory of the beloved Iranians who lost their lives on the 18-19 of Dey (January 7-8), the martyrs of Iran’s path to freedom. Their memories live on through art, culture, and community.
The concert will be preceded by a calligraphy demonstration by artist Arash Shirinbab at 6:45 pm, and a mini vendor market. If you would like to vend in the mini vendor market, please apply at this link by March 10.
This event is part of the OACC “Celebrating our HeART-Filled Heritage” (COHH) series. COHH platforms local Asian and Pacific Islander performing artists and brings their artistry to diverse East Bay audiences. The event is free to attend, but registration is requested at the link below.
ABOUT NOWRUZ
Nowruz (meaning “New Day” in Persian) marks the arrival of spring and has been celebrated across West Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Black Sea Basin, the Balkans, and South Asia for over 3,000 years. Ritual traditions include spring cleaning, a 13-day celebration with visits, gifts, and feasts, and gathering family around the Haft-Sin—a beautifully arranged table set with seven symbolic items (wheat sprouts for rebirth, apples for beauty, coins for prosperity, and more – decorated with candles, goldfish, and colored eggs).
ABOUT THE PERSIAN CLASSICAL TRIO
Pezhham Akhavass was born in 1980 in Iran. He began studying the tombak at the age of five under Naser Farhanghfar and later continued his training with Saeid Roudbary. He earned his BA and MA degrees in music from San Francisco State University and is a Voting Member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMY). Akhavass has performed internationally with Shahram Nazeri and Zakir Hussain, and appeared with Yo-Yo Ma at the Hollywood Bowl. He continues to perform, teach, and collaborate on projects promoting Persian music worldwide.
Aryan Rahmanian was born in 1976 in Iran and began studying Persian classical music at fifteen, focusing on vocal performance and the tar. He trained under distinguished masters including Mohammad Reza Lotfi, Nasrollah Nasehpoor, and Mohsen Keramati. His wide intellectual interests in philosophy, history, and ethnomusicology have led him to author several books on music philosophy and Middle Eastern music theory. He has produced multiple albums featuring original compositions inspired by Rumi’s poetry and has performed at major international festivals worldwide.
Ashkan Ghafouri was born in 1967 in Tehran, Iran. He studied traditional and contemporary tar techniques and the Persian radif under Hooshang Zarif and later refined his artistry with Mohammad Reza Lotfi. He also studied harmony and composition with Farhad Fakhredini. Ghafouri co-authored a textbook on the Persian modal system and transcribed the radif of Morteza Neydavood. In 2001, he founded Tarschool in California. An active performer and educator, he has appeared internationally and published Tar Book in 2019.
ABOUT THE CALLIGRAPHER
Arash Shirinbab an award-winning Arabic and Persian calligrapher based in Oakland. His work has been featured in over 80 exhibitions around the world. His work is part of private collections and prominent museums worldwide, including the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy in Moscow and the Abgineh Museum in Tehran. Arash’s art draws from the rich traditions of Near Eastern lettering and calligraphy, reimagining them in contemporary forms such as calligraffiti, painting, ceramics, digital art, and installations. For over 12 years, he has dedicated his practice to public education, leading workshops and lectures that bridge the gap between ancient tradition and modern Bay Area life.
