Manoochehr Sadeghi

The Santur Master Manoochehr Sadeghi is a leading virtuoso on the Santur, with forty-five years professional experience both in his native Iran and in the United States of America. As a youth Sadeghi’s principal teacher was the Persian Master Abol Hassan Saba, from whom he learned the theory and performance practices of Persian music. In 1956, he was chosen by Saba to participate in his orchestra, the first Orchestra of the State Fine Arts Department of Iran, in which he continued as a soloist for many years.

As a member of this orchestra and other ensembles sponsored by the Iranian Government he has performed on Tehran radio and television, concretized widely and given command performances for visits of various foreign dignitaries and heads of state from India, Pakistan, Iraq, Denmark, Great Britain, The Netherlands and America. At the same time, he was engaged in teaching at the Conservatory of Persian National Music in Tehran. Since 1967, he has taught privately and at UCLA as lecturer of theory, history and performance of Persian Classical Music. He has used both oral and notated methods in his teaching with emphasis on developing improvisational skills and techniques. He has trained countless young musicians and scholars, many of whom have become master musicians.

Manoohehr Sadeghi was the recipient of the 2000-2001 Durfee Foundation Master Musician Award and was recently nominated by the Los Angeles Country Arts Commission to be a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts award.


Pejman Hadadi

Pejman Hadadi is a “virtuoso” Iranian Tombak and Daf player who has been hailed “the finest Iranian percussionist living in America” (KPFA radio, Berkeley, rhythm magazine). He began playing Tombak at the age of ten under the masters of the instrument Asadollah Hejazi and Bahman Rajabi. In 1990, upon immigration to the United States, Hadadi began his professional career performing and recording with ensembles of Persian classical music as well as Indian, Turkish and American musicians. In 1995, Hadadi composed and performed for Namah and Dastan Ensembles. His discography includes Midnight Sun, Through Eternity, Fire of Passion, Whisper, and Tale of Love. His credits include film and theater soundtracks such as The Prince of Egypt, numerous television and radio interviews with live performances including BBC Radio in London, KPFA, KPFK, and KCRW stations in California. Pejman Hadadi was the recipient of the 2001-2002 Durfee Foundation Master Musician Award and he currently resides in southern California where he teaches Tombak and Daf.

Greg Ellis

Master percussionist Greg Ellis has always been in awe of the power of drums from different cultures. His music path began in his hometown of Los Gatos, California. He studied classical percussion at San Jose State University, and then began compiling an impressive list of recording and touring credentials that would include Billy Idol, Mickey Hart, Keith Emerson, KODO, Mark Curry and Steve Stevens, plus numerous film and television projects. His exploration of the interplay between percussion instruments from various cultures deepened and he shifted his focus to the percussion instruments of India, the Middle East and Africa. In 1995 began Kala Rupa with vocalist Azam Ali and together have produced a variety of albums called Vas on Virgin Music’s Narada. He composes music around the rhythm rather than the melody, allowing the tonal and emotional center of the music to be established by the percussion.