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On Saturday, November 10 Future Studios presents Hejira, a creative blend of world music and earthy, global rhythms featuring Ashraf Mohammed Hakim, a 1st chair cellist with the Cairo Opera House in Egypt from 1992 to 2006.

1st Chair Cellist from the Cairo Opera House in Sedona on Nov 10th

Sedona, AZ - On Saturday, November 10 Future Studios presents Hejira, a creative blend of world music and earthy, global rhythms featuring Ashraf Mohammed Hakim, a 1st chair cellist with the Cairo Opera House in Egypt from 1992 to 2006.

Ashraf has a BA in Music Performance from the High Institute for Arabic Music in Cairo. His incredible fiery, Arab solos are an audience favorite & add much to Hejira's overall sound.

Hejira’s founder and principal composer is Don Baragiano, originally from Cincinatti, Ohio, now residing in Seattle, WA. Don studied guitar at the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music, studied world rhythms at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and lived, worked & studied the Middle Eastern culture for 2 years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where he was granted a private audience with Saudi Arabia's top musician, Hamzah Mohammed Al Bashir. Don Baragiano was recently selected by IndieGuitarists.com, a website that offers Internet promotion for indie musicians and is recognized by over 65 different countries around the world and has also been recognized by premier publications such as Guitar Player Magazine, Bass Player Magazine, Frets Magazine, Music Player and many more.

Hejira's heartbeat is Michael Valentic on percussion, who’s rhythm is primal yet elegant; reaching out to unite the listener, band and dancers. Michael spent the last 5 years studying Middle Eastern drum beats with several prominent percussionists throughout the Northwest. Accompanying Michael on percussion is Yasmin, who has been teaching the art of belly dance and sharing the beauty of Middle Eastern music for many years.

Hejira’s original song "Moroccan Roll" was selected for Internet Radio play on www.OutboundMusic.com, which broadcasts top-quality independent music on its multiple streaming Internet radio stations. They are currently streaming 7 radio stations 24/7 with audiences from around the world. Hejira’s namesake song “Hejira” has been accepted by Songs with Vision, an organization that represents songs for placements in film, television, advertising and video game projects.

Hejira has coined this tour their "Be the Change" tour, as they are conscious musicians with a desire to impact our world in a positive way and to truly “be the change.” The "Be the Change" tour theme was inspired by the Musicians-That-Need-To-Be-Heard Network™ (www.musiciansnet.org) which Hejira has recently joined. Future Studios and the Musicians That Need To Be Heard Network are affiliates of Global Change Multi-Media, a nonprofit organization which brings innovative artists with spiritual and higher-consciousness messages to the world and assists positive artists to create professional promotional tools to actualize their talents and artistic destinies. As members of the Network, Hejira’s performance at Future Studios is an extra-special occasion that will be professionally video-taped for their live-concert DVD!

"…it is refreshing to hear and dance with the original music of Hejira. I like that Hejira is not trying to be some 3rd rate Arabic (cover) band. Hejira is one of a kind and moving forward beautifully into a uniquely expansive direction…”- Taia Chard, World Famous Dancer/Choreographer

Doors open at 7:00 P.M. show starts at 7:30 P.M Admission is $12 advance, $15 day of show for adults; $9 advance, $12 day of show for kids under 12. Future Studios is located at 30 Hozoni Drive in West Sedona (mailing address: P.O. Box 4779, Sedona, AZ 86340). www.futurestudios.org. For tickets and/or information call (928) 282-9139.