Former teen refugee speaks in Oak Park about music collaboration between the U.S. and Iran

Naeim Rahmani, an Iranian classical guitarist who came to the U.S. as a teen refugee, will speak on a collaborative musical project to promote understanding between the U.S. and Iran at a concert in Oak Park on Sunday, May 21. Rahmani will perform at Oak Park's Church of Beethoven concert series at Open Door Theater at 10:30 a.m.

Rahmani was born in Isfahan, Iran and lived there until his late teens when he immigrated to the US as a refugee. Leaving his parents behind and bringing with him only his passion for the guitar, he began his formal study at the relatively late age of 19. After receiving his Bachelor's degree at the University of Washington he continued to the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee where he completed his Master’s degree under renowned Cuban guitarist Rene Izquierdo.

"I was a refugee in Turkey for two years and was extremely vetted before I could come to the US. There has already been enough examinations in place. I stand strongly with all the refugees."

Rahmani will speak about his collaborative project with Iranian guitarist/composer Ashkan Saberi, the Seattle-Isfahan Sister Cities Association (SISCA), and the Guitar Orchestra of Seattle. The two guitarists are natives of Isfahan and conceived of the project as a way to unite the two cities through music. There is no relationship between Iran and the US. The SISCA is a local non-profit that seeks to establish a sister city relationship between Seattle and Isfahan. A guitar piece by a Seattle composer will also be premiered in Isfahan by the local guitarists.

Rahmani has taught classes at the University of Wisconsin and at Maranatha University in Wisconsin, and is now a faculty member at the Latino Arts School in Milwaukee, where he teaches guitar to students in the Latino community. Naeim became a US citizen in 2008. He is eternally grateful for all that this country has offered him, and stands in solidarity with others who are fleeing repressive regimes around the world.See

Rahmani perform Bach in Oaxaca, Mexico here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS15kW2H6UU

Naeim performs and competes regularly. In 2015 he was a prizewinner at competitions in Seattle, San Francisco and Louisville and was recently announced as a semi-finalist for the 2016 Fulbright program. In 2014 he participated in a concert series in Spain along the route of the Camino Santiago, where he performed in local churches for pilgrims and tourists who were walking the route to its end at Santiago de Compostela.

Program:

Cinq Préludes Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) Allegro from Violin Sonata No.3 in C major, BWV 1005 Trans. Manuel Barrueco J.S. Bach (1685-1750) 3 Caprices from 36 Caprices Op.20 Luigi Legnani (1790-1877) Suite Castellana Federico Moreno Torroba (1891-1982) Trans. Leo Brouwer (b.1939) Sonata in D minor, L.366/K.1 Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) Arr. Leo Brouwer (b.1939)

Started in Oak Park in 2011, Church of Beethoven-Oak Park presents Sunday morning classical music performances in an intimate and casual setting as well as poetry by local poets and two minutes of silence. The family-friendly concerts are designed to bring classical music to an intimate audience in a casual setting.

Record store owner Val Camilletti is mistress of ceremonies in a refreshing Sunday morning event with free coffee and cookies. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and children.

The concert takes place at Open Door Theater, 902 S. Ridgeland Ave.

For more information visit www.churchofbeethoven-oakpark.com