Aşkina Ashkinah-Sakinah-Shalom

June 12, 2022 at 6:30 PM at The Gindi Auditorium

presented by the Yunus Emre Institute

Yunus Emre Institute presents:

Aşkina

Ashkinah-Sakinah-Shalom

Promoting Cultural Unity Through Peace and Love

Aşkina featured composers and works from Sephardic-Jewish, Turkish, and Arabic communities. The concert used music as a bridge to develop cross-cultural understanding and communication between the cultures of the Near East and beyond.

Ticket proceeds from Aşkina benefitted UNICEF USA in support of their emergency work for the children of Ukraine.

The full concert title, “Aşkina Ashkina – Sakinah – Shalom,” ties together words of unity from the cultures represented in the program: “Love” (Turkish) – “Peace/Serenity” (Arabic), and “the spirit of God” (Hebrew) – “Peace/Harmony” (Hebrew) – “Peace” (Arabic/Hebrew).

Soloists included Turkish-American pianist Dr. Ayşe Taşpınar Gatenyo, Turkish ney/oud virtuoso Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Persian-American vocalist Chloe Pourmorady, Syrian oud player Asher Levy, ethnic percussionist M.B. Gordy, guitarist Alfredo Schiftan, and more!

Featured composers and pieces included the West Coast Premiere of Sharon Farber’s “Ashkina,” the US Premiere of Ulvi Cemal Erkin’s “Piano Concerto No. 1,” the World Premiere of Erberk Eryilmaz’s “Yan Yana,” “Dance of Abraham” by Nabil Azzam, and the World Premiere of “Journey to Love,” a medley arranged by Önder Özkoç based on melodies of Yunus Emre.

FEATURED SOLOISTS

FEATURED COMPOSERS

ADDITIONAL SPONSORSHIP PROVIDED BY: