The Qadim Ensemble

DOORS: 7 SHOW: 8 The Qadim Ensemble is a San Francisco Bay Area–based ensemble exploring the rich musical traditions of the Middle East, North Africa, and Mediterranean. The word Qadim , found in both Arabic and Hebrew, means both “ancient” and “that which will come,” reflecting the group's interest in connecting musical traditions across time and cultures. Led by multi-instrumentalist Eliyahu Sills and vocalist/oud player Rachel Valfer, Qadim brings together musicians steeped in Arabic, Jewish, Turkish Sufi, Hebrew-Yemenite, Armenian, Greek, Ladino, Persian and Moroccan traditions. Their performances move between sacred and folkloric music, highlighting both the distinctiveness of these traditions and the musical connections they share. The ensemble's core instrumentation can include oud, ney (Middle Eastern reed flute), vocals, Arabic percussion, qanun, Turkish saz and other traditional instruments, with the lineup expanding to include special guest musicians. Members have studied and performed extensively throughout the Middle East and internationally. Ashkenaz is ALL AGES all the time, unless otherwise noted!