Performer Bios
This year's performers include:
The New York Times calls Amir Alan Vahab "Ambassador for a Silenced Music". Amir Alan Vahab is one of New York’s most celebrated and distinguished composer / vocalists of sacred and folk music. From a very young age, Amir Vahab knew that music would be his life-long passion. Born in Tehran, Iran, he began his vocal studies at the age of four, and later he was learning his first instrument, the delicate and ancient Persian tanbur. By his late teens, Amir Vahab was already an accomplished musician on such instruments as the setar, tar, ney and the daf. His dedication to music pushed him further to focus his time and energy in perfecting the Chogur. In 1976 he moved first to London and then to Paris to both expand his education and his awareness of universal spiritual dimensions in music. In 1981, Amir Vahab moved to his current home of New York City. In New York, he established himself definitively as a professional musician, both in live shows and in recording studios. He has played before audiences ranging from select private shows to crowds of 6,000 people. Today, Amir has six albums to his credit, for many of which he is the composer as well as singer and player. Amir Vahab is currently studying western music and researching ethnomusicology. Amir feels a dialogue between civilizations is emerging in his work, which allows a comparative perspective between Middle Eastern and Western music traditions, both classic and modern. Amir Vahab believes that the possibility of cross-fertilization exists, from which both traditions can benefit. “Music should be so powerful such that one is powerlessly dragged to the unknown. It should invade the listener’s mind to the point of losing awareness.”.
Kardelen Turkish Dance Ensemble is a group of dancers dedicated to promoting the culture of Turkey through dances from the region. Kardelen Dance Ensemble takes its name from a resilient Anatolian mountain flower that survives under hardship and severe weather circumstances. The group members are committed to helping underprivileged children in developing countries who survive under difficult circumstances, just like the Kardelen flower, and therefore donate a portion of revenues to organizations that are engaged in the education and health of children. For more information visit: www.kardelendance.com
The Bluestar Dance Troupe was founded almost a year ago? by the leadership of Zeki Maviyildiz who has been sharing his vast experience and talents with his friends. Despite being a relatively new dance group, Bluestar Dance Troupe introduced Turkish Folk Dances to many audiences. They present a variety of Turkish folk dance pieces from traditional dances to modern choreographies, keeping the spirit of the dance. Bluestar Dance Troupe is currently based in Raleigh, North Carolina. For more info visit: www.bluestardance.com
Silk Road Dance Company
The award-winning Silk Road Dance Company (SRDC) presents traditional and contemporary women's dances from the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. Founded by Artistic Director Laurel Victoria Gray in 1995, the ensemble's performances offer a unique glimpse into the life, culture, and art of little-known regions. SRDC has won deep respect from the members of the communities represented by the company's repertoire. They were the first American dance ensemble to receive an invitation to perform in Samarkand, Uzbekistan at the UNESCO-sponsored Sharq Taronalari International Festival; they were also the subject of a special on Uzbek television. SRDC has performed at events for the Embassies of Egypt, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey and Russia, and is frequently engaged by numerous cultural organizations in the local Middle Eastern community. For more information visit: www.silkroaddance.com For more information visit: www.silkroaddance.com
Ismail Lumanovski was born in Bitola, Macedonia to a Turkish Romani family. Ismail began playing the clarinet at age nine. His expressiveness and technical skill in both western classical and Balkan folk music have distinguished him even among clarinetists twice his age. Ismail plays with several New York-area bands and performs at concerts and Balkan weddings all over the country, while attending the Juilliard School where he studies with Charles Neidich.
Ever since its creation in 1998 by several devoted Turkish/Turkish-American individuals, Washington, DC Turkish Folk Dance Troupe has been a part of numerous social, educational, cultural, and recreational events. With over 60 performances on its record, the troupe continues to grow both in terms of size and repertoire. Anyone, regardless of past dance experience, is welcome in the group. The troupe, as a whole, serves for the purpose of promoting and broadening the awareness of Turkish culture in the U.S. through performances of various Turkish folk dances; whereas, from the individual's standpoint, it is a friendly and social environment where the learning and teaching of Turkish folk dances are made possible through voluntary work. The troupe meets every Sunday afternoon to practice. For more information, please visit http://tfdc.shutterfly.com/
Ilhan Sami Özulu is currently celebrating his 41st year anniversary in music. He was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey and started his music education in 1966 at Istanbul Municipal Conservatory of Music when he was at middle school. After his graduation from Kültür Koleji, in 1972, he enrolled at the University of Istanbul’s School of Economics. At the same time, he started to play guitar at various hotels, nightclubs and casinos in Istanbul and participated in several tours in Europe and all around Turkey. Even though he changed his daytime career, Dr. Özulu still plays all kinds of Turkish and international music in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area. He established and directed Turkish Music Choir in 2001, and supported Turkish Folklore Troupe of Washington, DC. For more information visit: www.ilhanozulu.com
The Balkanics are the dynamic, colorful and unpredictable are the peoples of the Balkan peninsula. Naturally, their music has absorbed the complexity of their existence, and has grown into a rare mixture of odd rhythms, forgotten modes and poignant lyrics. Played on modern day instruments, this music, with its unlikely progressions and intricate ornamentation, sounds extremely intriguing to the Westerner’s ear. The Balkanics bring this phenomenon home to the DC area.Coming to a Balkanics event is not just a night out — it is an experience of a culture distant yet rooted into your natural instincts and emotions. To feel footloose and carefree and forget the troubles of the day, this is what music is all about! For more information, please visit: www.balkanics.com
Nomad Dancers, a collective inspired by traditions of India, Persia, Central Asia and Turkey, travelling across borders and bridging cultures in search of the ultimate dance experience. Appeared recently at the concert "Triveni: Three Rivers" presented by Indian Dance Educators Association of Greater Washington, DC. Past appearances include "Shared Rhythms" at Jack Guidone Theater, Washington, DC; Herdeljezi Festival, Adelphi, Maryland; Skyline Showstoppers at Bishop Ireton High School, Alexandria, VA. Making their first appearance at Turkish Festival DC, and inviting everyone to celebrate "Norooz Around The World," March 21, 2010, 8 p.m. at Bishop Ireton HS, featuring New Year traditions of Turkey, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Uzbekistan, and Xinjiang Province, China, with internationally renowned guest artists.
Turkish Folk Music Group consists of all volunteer musicians and singers. One of the members of the group, Zeki Findikoglu, was also founder of the first Turkish Folk Music Group in Washington, DC, which was called as Koylu Saz Group. The other members of this group were two former Peace Corps volunteers Alex Vogel and George Park, and Gokalp Babaoglu. Today’s group has been organized and performed about a year. Main purposes of the group are to keep Turkish Folk Music alive, to practice and to educate. The group is a non-profit organization and also opens to everyone who wants to learn and practice Turkish Folk Music without any restrictions. For more information, please visit: http://turkishfolklore.blogspot.com/
Turku Band plays music from the western half of the Silk Road. They have played for audiences as large as 8000 people and as far away as Samarkand, Uzbekistan since 1998. Their music has received radio play as far away as Portugal and Uzbekistan. South Carolina Public Television has shown Turku's performances on many occasions. The members of Turku live in the Carolinas of the USA. Turku is a five member ensemble including: Ted Monnich on saz, Farzad on violin, Daveed Korup on hand drums, Denys Proteau on kaval and cumbus, Carla Monnich on davul and zils. For more information on Turku, please visit: www.turkumusic.com