Homayoun Sakhi and Salar Nader in Concert: Afghan Musical Odyssey
Overview
Come enjoy the enchanting sounds of two master musicians in traditional Afghan music. Homayoun Sakhi, rubab master, and Salar Nader, tabla virtuoso, share the rich and varied legacy of classical compositions and folk melodies of this ancient Central Asian nation.
These master musicians have perfected their art in the traditional ustâd-shâgird apprenticeship in the wake of their families’ flight from Afghanistan following the chaos of the Soviet invasion - Salar, disciple of the legendary Ustad Zakir Hussain; and Homayoun, disciple of the revered Afghan Rubab maestro Ustad Mohammed Omar.
In a time when music has been banned in Afghanistan, the music of these master musicians serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience and importance of preserving cultural heritage.
Event Details
About the Musicians
Homayoun Sakhi
Homayoun Sakhi, an Afghan rubab maestro, was born in Kabul in 1976 to a renowned musical lineage. From age ten, he immersed himself in mastering the national instrument, the double-chambered rubab, under his father’s tutelage in the traditional ustâd-shâgird apprenticeship. In 1992, he and his family sought refuge in Peshawar, Pakistan, following the chaos of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Sakhi’s exceptional talents gained recognition there, making him a popular entertainer known for his diverse repertoire.
In 2001, he relocated to Fremont, California, home to the largest Afghan community in the US where he introduced his refined rubab style, quickly becoming a local musical leader, earning national and international acclaim as a performer, teacher, and composer. Sakhi established a school, recorded albums, and became a sought-after performer, dedicating hours daily to honing his rubab skills. As a composer, he collaborated with renowned artists, revitalizing the rubab by infusing it with contemporary and global influences.
In 2020, he founded the Rubab Academy, an online school dedicated to promoting Afghan music and the rubab. Through online classes, he has taught students from around the world, contributing to the global dissemination of this music and the rubab. Despite adversity in Afghanistan’s turbulent times, Sakhi has and continues to preserve and elevate the rubab’s classical style. His unique approach blends tradition with a modern sensibility, earning him international acclaim and captivating audiences worldwide.
Salar Nader
A standout artist of his generation, tabla virtuoso Salar Nader is recognized as a global ambassador weaving South Asian arts into the musical traditions of his Afghanistan heritage. A percussionist, composer, and producer, Nader has studied under Ustad Zakir Hussain since the age of seven. He has toured widely with Stanley Clarke, Kronos Quartet, Wu Man, Miles From India; Central Asian master musicians Homayoun Sakhi and Abbos Kosimovj; and legendary Indian classical musicians including Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Selva Ganesh, Alam Khan, Rahul Sharma, and many others. He has performed and recorded with contemporary and electronic artists including Cheb i Sabbah, Niyaz, and Grand Tapestry.
Based in Los Angeles, Nader is committed to bringing the tabla to a wide audience. He collaborated on Farah Yasmeen Shaikh and Noorani Dance production, The Forgotten Empress, has appeared on soundtracks including the 2012 film The Reluctant Fundamentalist, and scored the original stage adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling novel The Kite Runner, which had a groundbreaking run on Broadway in 2022, culminating in the distinction of being the first Afghani artist to donate his instruments to the Museum of Broadway in New York City.
In 2019, he founded the Salar Nader Tabla Foundation, globally preserving Afghan cultural traditions through instruments and mentor scholarships, supported by Rhea Designs Inc. In March 2022, Salar curated Nezam-e-Shams at the Getty Museum, a collaboration between the Sounds of L.A. series and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Since 2023, Salar has collaborated with the Leela Dance Collective dedicated to Kathak, a classical dance from North India.
His discography includes “Live in San Francisco Volume I,” “The Forgotten Empress,” “In the Footsteps of Babur: Musical Encounters from the Lands of the Mughals,” and his collaborations with Grand Tapestry. Salar continues his dedication to community engagement, workshops, and cross-cultural understanding.