Bembina Ensemble

30/07/2024

Introducing our musicians 🤍

Madeleine is from Albany in Western Australia and began playing violin at the age of six with her inspiring teacher Philip Noer. Madeleine holds a Bachelor in Classical music performance from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and has also studied at the Prague Conservatory of Music.

Madeleine is a member of the Perth Symphony Orchestra, and she has toured with orchestras throughout Canada, China and Europe. In addition, she creates original music with her bands Selfless Orchestra and Baba! Yaga! and as a solo artist has released two albums. She is a passionate advocate for social rights and environmental justice, and those themes permeate her original compositions.

Madeleine has joined the Bembina Ensemble to play in the Constantinople and Zumorrod Baile programmes. She loves collaborating with the Ensemble’s wonderful players and sharing the cultural traditions of music with audiences around the world.

Madeleine features in our upcoming concert Anahita 🌊

30/07/2024

Introducing our musicians 🤍

Iman was born and raised in Iran and started playing the tombak and daf when he was ten years old. Recognised for his natural talent, Iman was tutored to play the tombak by prominent Iranian maestros including Arzhang Kamkar, Jamshid Mohebbi and Bahman Rajabi. He also learned to play the daf from Masoud Habibi.

Over his 25-year career, Iman has played with various ensembles and Persian musical maestros, such as the Vaziri Orchestra (composer Keyvan Saket), the Dalahoo Daf Group (composer Masood Habibi) and arrangements with Majid Derakhshani. He has taken part in many concerts in Tehran and has performed on several albums in Iran such as A Night with The Sun; and Hamaseye Iran Zamin

Iman is a regular on the festival circuit in both Iran and Australia and has performed on several occasions with the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Alongside his musical accomplishments, Iman has a Master of Science in Engineering. He joined the Bembina Ensemble in 2023 and says of his beloved instruments “the daf and tombak are my kids and I cannot live without them!”.

30/07/2024

Introducing our musicians 🤍

Julia began her musical journey on violin at age four in Albany, South Western Australia. A childhood immersed in the music of many world cultures, travel and adventure, undoubtably influenced her musical trajectory. Julia completed Bachelor of music at the University of Western Australia under renowned Violinist Paul Wright; and Masters of Research on Violin at Edith Cowan University under internationally acclaimed violinist Alexandre Da Costa. Julia’s Masters research focused on the collaborative possibilities of Western Art Music, particularly Baroque repertoire, and Middle Eastern musical traditions meet.

Julia trained with today’s leaders of Tango from Buenos Aries, attended Silkroad Ensemble’s Global Musician Workshop, including tuition from Arabic music specialist, late Bassam Saba, co-founder of the New York Arabic Orchestra. As well as training with David Dolan of Guildhall, London in the art of Classical improvisation, attended a residency at Banff Centre for Creativity, Canada, and in 2019 furthered her studies in the Persian Classical system, attending lessons with Kamencheh Master Shervin Mohajer in Tehran, Iran.

Julia performs with Perth Symphony Orchestra, Australian Baroque, WA Philharmonic, and Fremantle Chamber Orchestra, and has performed nationally and internationally including tours within Australia, Southeast Asia, Europe, USA and Canada.

Julia is Artistic Director of Bembina Ensemble, exploring intersections of Middle Eastern and Western Art Music in a multitude of cross-cultural creations that have been delighting and inspiring Perth audiences since the groups creation in 2021.

30/07/2024

Introducing our musicians 🤍

Michael was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon where his passion for music took hold at the age of nine when he began learning the trombone. By age 13, Michael had fallen for the mesmerising tones of the oud which led him to study at the esteemed Conservatoire of Music in Beirut.

Over the years, Michael has graced the stage alongside many renowned Lebanese musicians and vocalists. In 2014, he embarked on a new musical journey to Perth, Australia where he has collaborated with a number of diverse world music ensembles.

Michael joined the Bembina Ensemble from the start in 2021 and his mission is to delight audiences with the enchanting sounds of Middle Eastern music, masterfully expressed through his skilful oud playing.

Join for our upcoming concert Anahita 🌊

30/07/2024

Introducing our musicians 🤍

Alix grew up in Perth and began learning the violin at the age of four. In early high school, Alix was encouraged to take up the viola and has since studied with internationally renowned teachers and ensembles - most notably William Coleman from the Kuss Quartet in Austria as well as the Silkroad Ensemble (Boston), Tafel Music Summer Academy (Toronto), Mattheiser Sommer Akademie (Sobernheim), Mozarteum Summer Academy (Salzburg) and the Orchestra De La Francophonie (Montreal).

Closer to home, Alix is known as a lead violist in the Perth music scene and performs regularly as both a chamber and orchestral musician with Australian Baroque, Aquila, Flamingo Strings, Perth Symphony Orchestra, Perth Chamber Orchestra, the Orenda Ensemble, and the West Australian Philharmonic.

Alix is a founding member of the Bembina Ensemble and loves introducing audiences to new soundscapes and cultures through the ensemble’s diverse and vibrant programmes. “Music has the ability to transport us through time and space, and the way that can make any wall in this world feel permeable, to me, feels magical.”

Join for our upcoming concert Anahita 🌊

30/07/2024

Introducing our musicians 🤍

Reza is a musician, performer, composer, teacher and visual artist who was born in Tehran, Iran and migrated to Western Australia in 2000.

He studied Persian Classical Music on setar (a long neck lute) as well as Western Classical Music on guitar. He has also studied jazz guitar at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts and Western Art Music and Visual Arts at the University of Western Australia.

Reza is widely known on the local music scene as a fantastic saz player, and where he has been performing since 2009, including with the widely celebrated Kate Pass Kohesia Ensemble. Reza’s composition ‘Rumi in Song’ was a highlight of Bembina’s programs, and he continues to both compose and improvise with many high level and diverse ensembles. Reza is “excited to continue collaborating with this diverse group of vibrant, skilled and passionate musicians.”

Reza is co-artistic director for our upcoming concert: Anahita 🌊

03/07/2024

Anahita 🌊
Inspired by the Persian goddess associated with water, healing and fertility we have created a program of beautiful music. Arvo Pärt, Vivaldi, Persian avaz improvisation and song, including the gorgeous Sari Gelin, Lama Bada and more! This program comprises saz, Persian vocals, oud, percussion (tombak & daf), water percussion, vibraphone and strings. Join us for one concert only at Swanbourne Pelican Hall as we celebrate Anahita in all her glory ✨
Ticket link: https://www.trybooking.com/CTBMX

Bembina Ensemble explores intersections of Middle Eastern and Western Art Music. Soundscapes with st

26/06/2024

Help support Bembina to continue playing the music we love! EOFY fundraiser is open 🧡 Thank you!
https://artists.australianculturalfund.org.au/s/project/a2EMn000009uFjxMAE/bembina-ensemble-2024-program

23/06/2024

New website!!
Please check it out ... upcoming concerts to be announced soon 🌺

Bembina EnsembleBoorloo/Perth, Western Australia Email List Name * First Name Last Name Email * Thank you! Anahita Aug 4th 2024 Goddess Anahita, associated with water (aban), fertility and healing is the inspiration for our next concert. With lush strings, Persian singing (avaz), evocative oud, deli...

09/04/2024

Update: now SOLD OUT!
Concert announced!
Mozart in the Middle East 🧡
Sunday 19th May 4pm Kidogo

Mozart in the Middle East explores the musical links between the vibrant music of Mozart (with the many historical links to the Middle East), alongside our favourite Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Lebanese repertoire! Including extracts from Mozart Clarinet Quintet in Amaj, K.581 (with special guess Geoff Bourgault), Mozart Divertimento in Dmaj K.136, Fairuz, Umm Kalthom and more!
One concert only at Kidogo Arthouse:

Mozart in the Middle East explores the musical links between the vibrant music of Mozart (with the many historical links to the Middle East),...

05/02/2024

Behind the scenes at our photoshoot ✨