Turkish Kaval, Nay, Zurna and Baglama

Omar is now one of the most sought-after musicians, whose work transcends political boundaries while maintaining traditional sensibilities inaway few artists can manag. Omar Faruk was a musical prodigy. He was born in Adana, Turkey to a musical family who nurtured his precocious talents. At the age of eight, he began his musical career by developing proficiency on the kaval, a small diatonic flute.

Arabic tabla, advanced finger cymbals

Instructor/ performer is a native Egyptian who has lived in the Boston area for over 20 years. Karim performs primarily Arabic, Turkish and Andalusian hand percussion, including the Egyptian Tabla (goblet drum), Riqq (tambourine) and Segat (brass castanets also known as finger cymbals).

Turkish Darbuka

(Instructor/performer)

Born in Germany to Turkish and Syrian parents, Nezih Antakli was introduced from an early age to the fascinating tradition of Middle Eastern culture and music. For several years, he performed with various groups in Germany. In search for a deeper and broader knowledge of music, he studied percussion at the World Music Department of the Conservatory for Music and Dance in Rotterdam/the Netherlands and graduated in 2004.

Ara Dinkjian is best known as the founder of the highly influential and groundbreaking instrumental group, NIGHT ARK, which recorded four CDs for RCA/BMG and PolyGram/Universal.

Saxophone

As one of the founders and biggest stars of Bulgaria's wildly popular "wedding music" scene, Yuri Yunakov is a saxophone player of astounding technical virtuosity.

Guitar,bouzouki

Instructor/ performer (guitar - bouzouki) played lead guitar in the Israel Air Force Band. He is a Greek born musical arranger and virtuoso on guitar and bouzouki.

Turkish Ney, Mey, Zurna, Sipsi

Instructor/ performer (ney, mey, zurna) hails from Ismir, Turkey, where he combined his natural musical proficiency in rhythm and melody with formal studies in the idiom of Turkish folk music.

Arabic Oud

The legacy begins pre-biblical from 1600 BC in an area today called The Middle-East. Passed on from one generation to the next, Naji Hilal was born in Qarnayel Lebanon from a musically gifted family. At the early age of 6, Naji’s father made absolutely positively sure that Naji carries this bequest.

Oud

Instructor/performer (oud) an American-Armenian, is one of this country's finest oudists. Haig has played with many of the best musicians in Turkey, Armenia and the Arab world and has been a featured soloist in New York's Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. He has toured with "Transition" and "Taksim."

Taiko, Violin, Riffs

Nikolai Ruskin is a multi instrumentalist known for his skill on a variety of instruments from around the Middle East.