Events

Past Event

Rachid Halihal: “One of Morocco's best ambassadors of music”

September 23, 2021
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
America/New_York
St. Paul's Chapel, 1160 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10027

Rachid Halihal plays venues throughout the New York metro area with a full spectrum of accomplished musicians, as well as with his New York based band, Layali el Andalus; in 2008 they were presented at MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) in Manhattan, "Festival du Monde Arabe de Montrèal" in 2010, and in 2011 Rachid took them to Washington, D.C. to perform at the Kennedy Center in the Washington Revels production: Andalusian Treasures. In 2005 Rachid played at LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) for the inaugural King Tut exhibit in the US where he played his oud and sang in traditional Egyptian style. He has been presented at United Nations cultural events representing Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Morocco, and at embassies, museums, and universities in concert, including Brooklyn Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Columbia, UNF, and music festivals throughout the country such as "Genesis at the Crossroads" festival in Chicago. Rachid played his more Spiritual music at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. In 2010, he did a residency, teaching and conducting the premier SF Bay Arab music ensemble, ASWAT, which consists of both Arabs and Americans all learning and enjoying this style of music. In 2012, Rachid collaborated with the Graduate Center at City University of New York to found and lead a community instrumental and vocal ensemble, now called the New York Andalus Ensemble. Recently, in 2019, Rachid played at Lincoln Center for the screening of the film: "Morocco: A King, A Vision, An Ambition" and also played at IHRAF (International Human Rights Art Festival) in New York City. Rachid regularly teaches at festivals and retreats, not only to students of music but also works with dancers to further their understanding of the Arabic music they dance to.

Contact Information

Julian Bennett Holmes
9178859034