Labyrinth Ontario w/Araz Salek, Canan Sezgin-Geylan, Yahya Geylan

Event Details

Event type: All Ages / Licensed

Labyrinth Ontario co-presents with Toronto Yunus Emre Institute.

Labyrinth is dedicated to the study and performance of sonic traditions rooted in modal music, experimenting with sounds that stretch from Afghanistan through Central and West Asia and beyond. To learn more, please visit us at www.labyrinthontario.com

Araz Salek, Canan Sezgin Geylan and Yahya Geylan bring Iranian and Turkish background to their performance, but use music to expand beyond political borders. Expect a large variety of instruments: violin, tar, oud, Turkish tanbur and Yayli tanbur. This trio is part of Labyrinth's Nimble Ensemble initiative, bringing modal music to communities across Ontario.

Araz Salek, a Persian tar (lute) player from Tehran, began his training at eight under master musicians Hooshang Zarif, Arshad Tahmasebi, and Hossein Omoumi. He has taught extensively in Iran and Canada, including at the University of Tehran, Shawrak Music School, and the Labyrinth Musical Workshop. As Artistic Director of Labyrinth Ontario, which he co-founded in 2017, he promotes modal music traditions. Araz leads the Shiraz Ensemble, plays with Persamenco, and experiments across genres, with highlights including his solo album Birth and the Toronto/Crete quartet “This Tale of Ours.”

Canan Sezgin Geylan was born in Samsun, Turkey, into a family of musicians. First learning the mandolin, and later the violin, Canan developed her vocal style and technique with her father’s extensive archive of prominent vocal and instrumental masters. In addition to co-hosting the GEYLAN MUSIC YouTube channel, Canan and her husband Yahya Geylan prepared and performed Music From Home to Home concert program and produced the TV program Goenueller Bir Olsun (Let Hearts Unite) for the TRT Music Channel.

Yahya Geylan is a classical music vocalist at TRT Istanbul Radio and conductor of Ueskuedar Music Society, Neva Music Ensemble, and ISTUN Ensemble. As a soloist, he has performed in countless concerts internationally; including with the Pera Ensemble at the Festival Sesc de Música de Câmara in Brazil and A Pole in the Palace: Ali Ufki Bey with the Saz-ue Soez ensemble. Yahya is a constant collaborator with his wife, Canan Sezgin Geylan.

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