Songs of Refuge Featured Performer and Collaborator BiosDorcas International Institute of Rhode Island is a non-profit that provides programs and services to immigrants, refugees, and those looking to overcome cultural, educational, economic, and language barriers. Dorcas International has worked to empower newcomers for 100 years now and strives to create a welcoming environment for all who come to settle here in the Ocean State. Thank you to Baha Sadr and the Dorcas team for this on-going collaboration. Providence Public Library (PPL) is a 146-year-old nonprofit corporation providing free public library services through its rich and historic physical and digital collections, extensive information resources, thought-provoking exhibitions, impactful educational programs, and expert staff. PPL is continually transforming and focused on providing equally transformative experiences for all Rhode Islanders. The Library is actively expanding its reach through statewide collaborations and serving as an open and supportive teaching and learning place where communities can connect, experience, create and achieve, whether in the physical or virtual realms. Jesse Holstein, violinist and violist, has been a Resident Musician at CMW since 2001. He was a founding member of the Providence String Quartet. Prior to studying with Marilyn McDonald at Oberlin and James Buswell at New England Conservatory, he worked with Philipp Naegele in Northampton, MA. An active recitalist, orchestral and chamber musician, Jesse is currently concertmaster of the New Bedford Symphony. He has performed at the Bravo! Festival, the Montana Chamber Music Festival, the Bay Chamber Concerts, the Worcester Chamber Music Society, The South Coast Chamber Music Series, the Rhode Island Chamber Music Concerts, and the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, among others. In 2009 Jesse was a Violin Professeur at L’Ecole de Musique, Dessaix Baptiste in Haiti and is currently on faculty at Brown University. One of his interests is how Buddhist mindfulness practice and meditation intersects with teaching and performing music. Vocalist Nima Mehri is originally from Iran and grew up in Tehran. In 2019, Mehri moved to the United States to “beautiful Rhode Island.” He has an electrical engineering background, but Mehri’s passion is art; he loves design and architecture and is especially interested in interior design. In 2021, Mehri made steps to pursue his passion and was admitted to Rhode Island School of Design. Mehri says, “Iranian art plays a huge role in my development as a person in general. I adore Iranian traditional music and songs, and I’ve played them on guitar and sung these songs since my teen years. Though I have never formally studied music, it is one of my biggest passions.” Accompanied by the MusicWorks Collective, Mehri performs “Gol-e Sangam,” which means “my stone flower.” This iconic Persian language song is about someone being in love yet facing rejection. “Gol-e Sangam” was first performed in the 1970s based on the lyrics of Iranian poet Bijan Samandar, and is very popular in Iran, Afghanistan and in the region in general and is performed widely and in different versions by many singers. “Gol-e Sangam,” says Mehri, “is a song close to my heart.” Syrian-American Kareem Roustom is an Emmy-nominated composer whose genre crossing collaborations include music commissioned by conductor Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, the Kronos Quartet, arrangements for pop icons Shakira and Tina Turner, as well as a recent collaboration with acclaimed British choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh. Roustom has been composer-in-residence at the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago, the Grand Teton Music Festival in Wyoming, and with the Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen in Germany. For the 2021-2022 season Roustom is composer-in-residence with the Mannheim Philharmonic. Roustom’s music has been performed by ensembles that include the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Boulez Ensemble, the Deutsch Oper Berlin, The Crossing choir, Lorelei Ensemble, A Far Cry, and at renowned festivals and halls such as the BBC Proms, the Salzburg Festival, the Lucerne Festival, Carnegie Hall, the Verbier Festival, the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin, the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, and others. Roustom has received many commissions and has also been recorded by the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester (Berlin), and the Philharmonia Orchestra (London). Vocalist Habib Shah lives in Providence after relocating from Afghanistan. Shah chose to perform the song “Biyaadi dal” because the lyrics tell of “someone missing something, like I miss my country.” This Songs of Refuge collaboration with the MusicWorks Collective is Habib Shah’s first appearance as a vocalist before an audience. Vocalist Karine Tukhikyan is a refugee from Russia. She and her family were resettled by Dorcas International of Rhode Island in 2020. Tukhikyan loves to sing and play the guitar, and is active in her local Slavic church, saying “Christ and Christianity are the most important part of my life.” Her performance of “Prayer for Ukraine” highlights the concern and caring that Tukhikyan holds for the Ukrainian people, which she underscores by participating in several projects to aid Ukrainian citizens. Learn more here: https://www.facebook.com/baking.for.Ukraine and https://www.instagram.com/baking_for_ukraine/ Learn more about the MusicWorks Collective in our Season 25 Program Book: Watch Songs of Refuge here:
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