The Kereshmeh Ensemble

Celebrate the rich heritage of Persian culture and immerse yourself in art and music on the final day of Parviz Tanavoli: Poets, Locks, Cages. This special Persian musical performance is offered by the Kereshmeh Ensemble and vocalist, Banafsheh Farahmand.

Performance times:

• 1:30 PM
• 2:30 PM
• 3:30 PM

Between performances, join us for a riveting public conversation with Jeff Derksen, Adel Iskandar and Pantea Haghighi discussing. the possibility and answerability of art during moments of social change.

LEARN MORE

This program is in conjunction with the exhibition Parviz Tanavoli: Poets, Locks, Cages—the first major Canadian exhibition of works by the Iranian-born, Vancouver-based artist Parviz Tanavoli.

WHEN: Saturday, November 18
WHERE: First Floor Rotunda, Vancouver Art Gallery

ABOUT THE MUSICIANS

The Vancouver-based Kereshmeh Ensemble was founded in 2006 with Banafsheh Farahmand (vocal), Alborz Rahmani (tar), Sina Ettehad (kamancheh), Ramin Bahrami ( tonbak) and Sohrab Saebnia (santour). The Ensemble’s primary mission is to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western musical traditions.  

Kereshmeh Ensemble has been actively involved in the Canadian music scene and has performed in numerous concerts across Canada. Their performances typically feature a fusion of Eastern and Western musical elements, showcasing the diversity and rich cultural heritage of both traditions.  

Banafsheh Farahmand was born in 1987 in Tehran, Iran. She graduated from Tehran University of Art with a major in visual arts and fashion design. Banafsheh first trained as a vocalist with Zohreh Eshghi and later studied the radif (Persian vocal music) with Salar Aghili and Mahboobeh Golzari. Later, Banafsheh continued her study of vocal techniques with Amir Eslami. She is currently active as a solo vocalist and is also part of an all-female trio band called Hazar Ava, which has won multiple awards from the Global Music Awards. Banafsheh has had numerous artistic performances, and she actively participates in various musical bands and theatrical productions.