Commonalities of Afghan, Jewish, and Persian music: Performance and Conversation
Saturday, May 19 following 3pm show

Email symposium@newrep.org to reserve your complimentary spot!

PANELISTS/MUSICIANS:
Neema Jan (Oud)
Grant Smith (Percussion)

 Neema Jan (Musician, Oud) is an Iranian multi-instrumentalist and composer. As a performer, he has been playing Persian Classical Music for more than 25 years. He has played in numerous recordings and concerts. He has performed in venues such as Boston’s historical Jordan Hall, MIT, Harvard University, Tuft University, Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY, and many more. As a performer, Neema mostly performs solo recitals with Setar (his main instrument), and frequently with Oud, and Kamanche. Recently, he has published a solo Setar album “The Kiss Belongs to Nobody” with a-side records. Neema holds a Bachelor degree in Performance of Persian Classical Music from Tehran school of Music, Master’s Degree, and a Graduate Diploma in Contemporary Improvisation from New England Conservatory, Boston. He is currently a doctoral candidate in Composition with Minor in Music Theory at New England Conservatory, Boston.

Grant Smith (Musician, Percussion) Originally from Milwaukee and now residing in Watertown, Mr. Smith studied drumset with Alan Dawson, frame drums with Glen Velez and Jamie Hadad, as well as tabla with Shashi Nayak and Kazi Jalal. He is involved in many music projects including the Klezmer Conservatory Band and Klezperanto. Grant has performed with Itzak Perlman and Joel Grey. The Boston Globe called him “a brilliant improviser.”  From Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl, and Europe to Thailand, Grant has been on many stages but feels most at home here at the Mosesian.