Carleton’s Regional Carls Program

Carls in the Twin Cities invite you to the

Gao Hong and Issam Rafea CD Release Concert

Sunday, October 10, 2021
3:00 p.m. (doors open at 2 p.m.)

The Cedar Cultural Center
416 Cedar Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55454

Gao Hong (master of the Chinese pipa) and Issam Rafea (Syrian master of the Middle Eastern oud) will perform a set of improvised music at The Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis.

After the duo’s first album earned them two nominations from the 2019 Independent Music Awards, their new album, From Our World to Yours, was released worldwide on April 24, 2020 by ARC Music International in the U.K. Consequently, From Our World to Yours was awarded two gold medals at the 2020 Global Music Awards for both Best Album and Best Instrumentals. The duo's live improvisations mix Chinese and Arabic techniques in a performance titled "The Blending of Ancient Souls from Syria and China." Since they never discuss in advance what they will play, no two performances are ever the same. Each concert is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and audiences witness singular creations that come to life before their very eyes and ears — but are never to be repeated again.

Gao Hong teaches Chinese musical instruments and directs the Chinese Music Ensemble and the Global Music Ensemble at Carleton. Issam Rafea is one of Syria's elite musicians. Winner of the 2010 “Best Composer Award” in the Dubai International Film Festival (Muhr Arab), Rafea was Chair of the Arabic Music Department at the High Institute of Music in Damascus and principal conductor of the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music from 2003- 2013. 

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the event listing. The Cedar Cultural Center is offering Carleton alumni and family a 20% discount. The discount code is: PIPAANDOUD.

To view a promo for the event, check out The Cedar Cultural Center's Facebook video.

Questions? Contact Alumni Relations at alumni-office@carleton.edu or 800-729-2586.