“Featuring artists whose backgrounds include Israel (Asaf Ophir), Lebanon and Syria (Faisal Zedan) and Iran (Sirvan Manhoobi), the Dashti Trio brings a unique musical and cultural blend to the concert stage.

The Dashti Trio began with a peace concert in 2017, bringing together musicians from different parts of the Middle East to share their cultures. Each coming from a unique background and with his own independent career, they continued to collaborate on numerous projects and finally decided to form a dedicated trio. With a mixture of voice, clarinet, flutes, oud, and percussion, they bring the beauty of each individual culture as well as a few refreshing combinations that may never have existed before. Come and hear avaz with a scent of spices, hijaz with a flourish, and klezmer with a twist!

With: Asaf Ophir – woodwinds, vocals; Sirvan Manhoobi – oud, vocals and Faisal Zedan – percussion, vocals

Join us in person, by live-stream, OR on-demand! (For on-demand viewing, simply purchase a live-stream only ticket, and then watch the recording at your leisure anytime in the following two weeks.)

WE GUARANTEE ALL OF OUR PERFORMERS A MINIMUM FAIR WAGE – thanks to support from people like you!

COVID Safety Protocols:

Your safe enjoyment of this wonderful music is our first priority!

Our latest survey of our audience members showed a clear desire for continued robust safety protocols; therefore, at this time we will be continuing with the same protocols we have followed for the 2022-2023 season:

All artists, guests, and staff must be fully vaccinated and boosted for Covid 19 in order to attend. Please be prepared to show proof of vaccination at the door. At this time, we are also requiring a properly worn mask, covering nose and mouth, throughout the performance.

We will employ the use of air purifiers, and whenever the weather permits, open the windows to our halls.

We will continue to keep abreast of current safety protocols, and will survey audience members to make it comfortable for their attendance.

Faisal Zedan was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and raised in Oum Dbaib, Syria. Through a great love for percussion and years of dedicated study, he has become a master of Arabic percussion instruments including the Derbekki, Dahullah, Riq, and Def (Arabic/Turkish frame drum).

Faisal is currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and works regularly as a performer, collaborator and teacher. He has worked with a diverse array of musicians, including: Aieto Moreira, The Gorillaz, Joan Baez, Miriam Peretz, Khaleel Shaheed, Yuval Ron, Salim Sesler, Omar Faruk Taqbilek, Hasan Iskul, Yair Dalal, and Rumen Shopov.

Asaf Ophir began his professional career in musical theaters in Israel, on some of Israel’s most distinguished stages. Having moved to the United States in 2014, Ophir can most often be seen in world music projects on Jewish, Arabic, and Balkan stages. Throughout his career he has shared the stage with artists such as Miri Mesika, Avi Kushnir, Galit Giat, David De’or, Rana Farhan, and Barbara Streisand.

The San Francisco Chronicle writes: “”Asaf Ophir gives the clarinet the timbre of a trumpet, then a violin, then a raspy scream… the instrument’s wail almost becomes too plaintive and beautiful to bear.”

Sirvan Manhoobi is a Kurdish Iranian oud and tar player, and composer. He was chosen for the Best Soloist award in three Iranian music festivals in 2006, 2008, and 2009.

After completing his MA in Archaeology from Tehran University, Sirvan moved to the United States and continued his musical career. He established the Bamdad Ensemble, and collaborated with great artists such as Bijan Kamkar, Aziz Shahrokh, Ardeshir Kamkar, and Ismaeel Sabour, as well as the renowned Iranian director Bahram Bezraei in his play “Tarabnameh” (2016).”