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Abdullah Zaheri is originally from Kabul, Afghanistan. He came to Chicago in 2015 with his wife and 7 children. Abdullah started to teach himself how to play the tabla, piano, and keyboard in 2008 in his free time in Afghanistan when he wasn’t able to find work. In Afghanistan, Abdullah was invited to perform at parties and this was a way to earn money. Now he continues to sing and create music at home and at parties because it makes him happy. He sings in Farsi, Pastho, Urdu, and Arabic to recreate Afghan music from home.
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Angel Salas is a flutist, Cuatro player, and professional singer. He was born in 2005, he began his music studies at the age of five. From age seven to 16, he joined the ranks of the Youth and Children's Symphony Orchestra of Ciudad Guayana, achieving a position in the National Children's Orchestra of Venezuela. At just 11 years of age, he recorded the musical project in the studio "An Angel on the Flute." With the group "El Conjunto" he shared the stage with orchestras such as Billo Caracas Boy, Serenata Guayanesa, Cinco en Fusión. In November 2019 he was a guest artist of the Los Melodicos Orchestra in the National Tour of Venezuela of the Los Melodicos Orchestra. Due to the difficult situation facing his country, his family emigrated in December 2021. At the end of January 2022, he entered Bartlett High School, and in February of that same year, he won the school's Talent Show and now represents the school in the state before other institutions. |
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Dance Peace is an initiative where refugee children and families in areas of social tension integrate peacefully into their communities through dance education and performance experiences. The program covers tuition scholarships, free dancewear, complimentary tickets, field trips, a paid teaching apprenticeship, and more. Current dancers are from Myanmar/Burma, Congo,/Zambia, among other places. The program is generously hosted by Music House (2925 W Devon) and supported by individual donations.
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Kevin Thywill is originally from Accra, Ghana. He came to the U.S. in 2014 as a refugee. He went to Amos Alonzo High School where he graduated in 2015. Kevin is a Professional Photographer and also DJ. Kevin is also pursuing his education to become a pharmacist. Kevin shares, "Photography is one of my hobbies that I developed into a business. Since I was a kid he has loved taking pictures of people and love the reaction on their face when I show them the pictures. I learn how to DJ from one of my friend. I always like the way music connects to people. When I'm not working, you can find me spending time with family, learning new things/ skills. Connect with me to learn more about my professional journey."
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Ssebina Richard and Kakonge Mosha are Ugandan dancers based in Chicago, IL.
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Samir Al-Omar is a Syrian Refugee and now Chicago resident. He is a music teacher from Idlib, Syria, and father of 1 boy and 2 girls. His family fled to Turkey prior to 2013 for safety. He works for MusicTech, a media brand between music and technology, and studied at Truman College.
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Saraswathi Ranganathan is an award-winning passionate practitioner of the Veena, and cultural ambassador credited to introducing this ancient Southern Indian acoustic instrument across remote corners of the globe: All while accomplishing her mission of connecting cross cultural communities with the message of Love and Peace, transcending race, religion, culture and color. Ranganathan has been co-curator of the Chicago International Veena Fest for the past decade; started Surabhi Ensemble, a world music collective, with the goal of #lessfearlesshatemorelove to #liveasonefamily. She has the unique distinction of being the first artiste to introduce Veena to the Theatre-world as an orchestra member of Disney’s Jungle Book production. Saraswathi won the Chicago Music Special Award of Honor 2021 and is one of the chosen Artistes as the face of Chicago Year of Music 2020-2021. She is pursuing research on Ragas and mental health with humanity as the canvas. | Sunil Gargyan is a young award-winning carnatic vocalist from Chennai-India, gifted with a melodious pliable voice, that makes for an intensely pleasant experience to the listener. Sunil's rigorous musical training and artistry add depth to his musical essays, which transport the listener to a joyous place.
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Tanya Sigidin is a pianist, teacher, and vocal specialist. Her educational background includes Snezhnyansky School of Music, Donetsk Christian University, and College of DuPage. Tatyana was born in Snezhnoye, Donetsk region, Ukraine. At the age of 7, she started attending music school, which she graduated later with honors. Upon graduation from Donetsk Christian University, she joined the Light of the Gospel mission to develop musical ministry and education among the new churches of Ukraine and Russia. In 1999, Tatyana’s family migrated to the United States. Since 2001, she has been teaching the piano and vocals for children, giving beginner guitar lessons, and serving as music director in the church.
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Tamanaco Tambor is an Afro-Venezuelan drum group from the city of Chicago that represents the country in different festivals such as Frida Fest in Milwaukee, Latino music and food festival in the city of Joliet, Hispanic Pride festival in Kenosha Wisconsin, Festival of the Sun in Chicago. The mission of the group is to transmit Venezuelan folklore, with our own style that allows us to connect with the listener. It should be noted that Tamanaco has participated in different schools and universities, as well as cultural presentations and workshops in institutions in the city of Chicago. Romeoville Evanston of the state of Illinois revealing the origin of the different beats, instruments, songs among others. While waiting for their first EP of 6 songs, Tamanaco Tambor offers percussion workshops where the rhythms and fusions they used to make the songs are explained.
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I Gusti Ngurah Kertayuda is one of Bali’s most respected master dancers and director of Indonesian Dance of Illinois. His charismatic performances have been well received throughout Asia, Europe (England, Germany, France, Holland), and the United States. A graduate of the National Performing Arts Institute (KOKAR) in Denpasar, Indonesia, he is well versed in the many forms of traditional dance and music from Indonesia.
He has been a teacher of Indonesian Dance and Gamelan from 1973 to present. Student Dancers- Claudia Ong, Ambasari, Ashwati, Kina, Teresa Parod, Naya. |
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Ruben Pachas has been teaching abroad and in the US since 2004. He received a BA in Arts Education from Dance from National Higher Education School of Folklore “Jose Maria Arguedas” Mayor in Peruvian Folk Dance in Minor in Education in Peru in 2002 and recently he obtained his Master of Arts in Arts Education from School of the Arts Institute of Chicago (SAIC) focusing on Teaching Peruvian Indigenous Dance to Non- Indigenous People for cultural values in 2020. Pachas began teaching indigenous dance to since he was in high school to his classmates and some year later after finishing the college his students earning the Peruvian Folk Dance National champion Contest for three years in Peru. When he arrived in the USA, he taught the in the Chicago Public Schools and was Dance Professor in Symposiums and Continuous Training Courses as Waukegan Public School and Oak Park District 97, guess professor at University of Chicago, Rosevelt University, he has participated in different National Dance conferences as Illinois Dance Education conference 2024, Ethnic Dance Chicago, National Folk Organization and Door County Folk Festival and Pachas has been an advisor for one year and Peruvian Dance Instructor at Chicago Summer Dance Chicago Since 2021. Pachas has been an active member of the Chicago dance community as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer for over 19 years.For World. Refugee Day 2024, Pachas will hold a Zumba workshop, starting with cardiovascular and muscular work, continuing with balance, flexibility and increasing energy. All this with salsa, merengue and cumbia steps come together to give life to a high and low intensity workout that is enlivened with these and other genres of Latin music and original cultural rhythms from some countries.
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