Friday November 1 * 7pm * $10-25

Join us for a very special evening of duo collaborations - Kimia Hesabi (viola) and Erin Snedecor (cello), and Abdulrahmann (live calligraphy) with guest musician tbd - in conjunction with the opening of visual art exhibitions by Abdulrahman Naanseh, Mei Mei Chang, and J.S. Adams.

Dr. Kimia Hesabi is a D.C.-based violist, educator, composer, and the Co-Director of Learning and Engagement at the National Philharmonic. A versatile and multi-faceted artist and creator, Hesabi’s work and self-initiated projects are centered around artistic, educational, and social impact. Passionate about the music and culture of her home country, Iran, Kimia has recorded and published her debut album entitled Nemāno Gaona, featuring commissioned works for viola by composers of the Iranian Diaspora.

Erin Murphy Snedecor is a collaborative cellist who strives to forge new paths for interdisciplinary and multi genre art. Her work spans the realms of classical, contemporary, pop, rock, electroacoustic, and folk, and she would be hard pressed to pick a favorite. Erin is a founding member, cellist, and music director of Balance Campaign, a contemporary sextet dedicated to the collaboration, commissioning, performance of works by new and lesser heard voices of modern music. She is also the cellist and Co-Director of earspace, a North Carolina-based ensemble that curates multisensory programs in unexpected venues. Erin is a 2023 Strathmore Artist in Residence, as well as a proud graduate of Ithaca College and University of Maryland, College Park.

Abdulrahman Naanseh - Passionately delving into the abstraction of thoughts and emotions through captivating symbols, I'm a devoted calligrapher. My main focus is innovating Arabic lettering techniques. I also aspire to explore modern expressions in calligraphy, sharing my experiences as a Syrian artist to bridge cultures through compelling compositions. Breaking from classical norms, I embrace contemporary approaches, infusing letters with cultural and human meanings. Using unique color combinations with organic inks, I explore themes dynamically. In my ongoing quest for modern ways to articulate ideas, I delve into life, humanity, and responses to adversity as an artist provoking new perspectives.