Letters to a Homeland: New Music of Ancient Origins رسائل إلى وطن with Kinan Azmeh, Layale Chaker, Dinuk Wijeratne, Tom Easley, Nick Halley

Director, composer, and drummer-percussionist Nick Halley is bringing together dear friends and powerhouse musicians to perform a spellbinding evening of original Middle Eastern and South Asian works. Originally from Damascus, Syria, clarinetist Kinan Azmeh brings his “spellbinding” (The New Yorker) music to all corners of the world as a soloist, composer, and improviser. French-Lebanese violinist and composer Layale Chaker was raised speaking multiple languages, both linguistically and musically. Her complex sound universe, described by NPR as “beguiling” with “bright and beautiful strands … gorgeous, wine-dark swirls,” lies at the intersection of contemporary classical music, jazz, Arabic music, and improvisation. Sri Lankan-born Canadian musician Dinuk Wijeratne is a boundary-crossing composer, conductor, and pianist, whose work “reflects a positive vision of our cultural future” (The Toronto Star). Nova Scotia’s award-winning jazz bassist, composer, and educator Tom Easley and of course Nick himself will complete the ensemble to explore through musical collaboration what the idea of ‘home’ means to us all.

Tickets ($150) include the concert, a Levant-inspired cocktail, Syrian mezze appetizers, and $100 tax receipt.

The Schedule:

5 pm - Drinks & dinner

5:30 pm - Concert

6:30 - More drinks & food!

Join us for an intimate evening of music and food in the serene setting of All Saints Cathedral, Halifax in support of Capella Regalis Choirs.