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Learn Radif, traditional Persian music, with master musicians Mamak Khadem (vocals, daf) & Hamid Saeidi (santur) during an 8-week workshop at Levantine Cultural Center.

During this fast-paced series, you’ll get a strong overview of the Persian classical music system—Radif. You’ll learn both classical and folk melodies. Each week the class will play and sing a different mode/scale and jam with the professionals.

All instrumentalists and vocalists are welcome—bring your instrument, and wear comfortable clothing.
Classes are 11 am to 1 pm, every Sunday in June and July starting June 14 and ending August 2, 2009. Tuition is $300 per student. Depending on the number of registrants, student tuition slots at $240 (20% discount) may become available.

Contact Levantine Cultural Center at 310.657.5511 to register today.

About Mamak Khadem and Hamid Saeidi
Mamak KhademMamak is best known as the singer of the cross-cultural Persian fusion ensemble Axiom of Choice, which was established in 1990 in Los Angeles. The ensemble broke new ground. With Axiom, Iranian musicians and artists realized that there was another way of looking at music. Following the release of each of their three albums —Beyond Denial (1994), Niayesh (2000), and Unfolding (2002)—the ensemble, which employed the talents of musicians from the United States, Armenian, and Iran, among others, held public performances in the US and Europe. Together with her own solo performances, some of these included California Plaza (part of Grand Performances summer series) (2002), the Skirball Cultural Center (2001),  the Greek Theater (2002), World Festival of Sacred Music, Los Angeles (2002), the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC (2002),  Los Angeles County Museum of Arts (2003),  Voices of Women Festival in Greece (2004),  Museum of Folk Instruments, Athens, Greece (2006), Irish World academy Of Music and Dance, University of limerick (2007).

Besides appearing in public performances, since 2001, Mamak has been a regular voice instructor at the Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp held each year at Mendocino, California. Many of her students now use her vocal techniques in their practices and performances. She has held regular music workshops, including the Labyrinth School of Music (summer of 2006) in Hudetsi, Greece, the Irish World Academy Of Music and Dance, University of Limerick (spring of 2007), and University of Toronto (autumn of 2007).

Mamak has recorded with Hans Zimmer (on the feature soundtrack to the motion picture Peacemaker), Joel McNeally (on the soundtrack to Buffalo Soldier and Dark Angels TV series), Jeff Rona (on the score of Traffic and Profiler TV series), Marco Beltrami (on the feature soundtrack to the motion picture Dracula 2000), Chris Beck (on the score to Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series), Richard Gibbs (on the score of Battlestar Galactica TV series), and Jamshid Sharifi (on the feature soundtrack to the motion picture Persona Non Grata).  Besides recording with film composers, Mamak has worked, performed and recorded with Turkish singer Omar Faruk Tekbilek (on the album Alif), Jamshid Sharifi (0n "A Prayer for the Soul of Layla"), and Tulku (on "Season of Souls" compiled in one of the Buddha Bar CD series).

Hamid SaeidiAward winning musician and composer Hamid Saeidi transcends musical categorization. Trained in the Radif system of Persian classical music from the age of 15, he studied santur (Persian hammered dulcimer) with famed Master Madjid Kiani.  Saeidi’s amazing technique, emotional depth and innovative improvisations led him to pursue a degree in music from The Iranian Academy of the Arts studying composition under Masters Farhad Fakhredini and Vartan Sahakian. As an internationally lauded performer, Saeidi has performed in Iran, Greece, Ireland, Germany, Turkey and the United States.  He has composed music for over 30 diverse films, television programs, dance and theatrical presentations including "Javdanegi” by Farshad Fereshtehekmat, "Afsaneh Saheleh Tareek" by Reza Davari, " Letters from Tentland " by Helena Waldman and the dance presentation "Avazhick" at the celebrated Theatre Shahr in Tehran, Iran. His works have received awards at the Beirut film festival (2002), the Iran TV Festival (2002-2004-2007) and the Society of Critics of Theater in Iran (2005). Hamid Saeidi is currently touring the United States with world music recording artist Mamak Khadem and can be heard on her new CD Jostojoo.