AWARD WINNING MUSICIAN AND ENSEMBLE TO

PERFORM AT THE ALBANY INSTITUTE OF HISTORY & ART

ALBANY, NY—On Saturday, April 21, Simon Shaheen and a quartet from the Qantara ensemble will perform two shows of traditional Arab music at the Albany Institute of History & Art. The performances will be held at 2:00 and 3:30 pm in the Lansing Gallery, and will feature material from their forthcoming album, Arboresque.

Shaheen, who performed to a sold out crowd at The Egg in February 2006, is one of the most significant Arab musicians of his generation. He has degrees from the Academy of Music in Jerusalem, the Manhattan School of Music and Columbia University. He established the Near Eastern Music Ensemble in the early 1980s. His concert credits include the world’s greatest venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Cairo’s Opera House, Theatre de la Ville in Beirut, and Belgium’s Le Palais des Arts. 

As a musician, performer and composer, Shaheen’s work incorporates and reflects a legacy of Arabic music, while it forges ahead to new frontiers, embracing many different styles in the process. His unique contribution to the world of arts was recognized in 1994 when he received the prestigious National Heritage Award.

Cost for each performance is $10 general public, $7 students and seniors, $5 for Albany Institute members. Advance tickets may be purchased at the Albany Institute or with a credit card via phone at 518.463.4478 x432. Seating for each of the two performances is limited.

This project was supported by The New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisory (RPA).

For image and music samples, please contact the Albany Institute of History & Art at 518.463.4478.

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Founded in 1791, the Albany Institute of History & Art (AIHA) is a 501(c) 3 cultural and educational institution dedicated to public service.  As a museum, its mission is to collect, preserve and interpret the art, history and culture of Albany and the upper Hudson Valley region from the 17th century to the present.  AIHA acquires collections, conducts research, produces publications, and offers a wide range of exhibitions, educational and public programs that appeal to diverse audiences ranging from pre-K to senior citizens.  The museum is open year round, Wednesday-Sunday. Admission is free to members and children under 6, $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students and $4 for children ages 6-12.  The Albany Institute of History & Art is accredited by the American Association of Museums and chartered by the New York State Department of Education.