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Aida Shahghasemi is a Minneapolis-based musician with roots in Iran. 

On Sunday, July 19, she invited three other Minnesota-based Iranian musicians from different walks of life to collaborate on the second installment of her residency at the 

. The performance featured Shahghasemi’s own music through the lens of various genres, including classical, contemporary, jazz and Iranian folk music.

"Our musical backgrounds may be different,” Shahghasemi said during an interview with the nightclub, “but it's amazing how sharing a language, history, culture and messy politics can weave a common thread among us." 

The three guest musicians include violist Niloofar Sohi and kamancheh (an Iranian bowed, stringed instrument) player 

, as well as guitarist, composer and improviser Niyayesh Shababi. 

“I knew the majority of the music prior (to) coming these rehearsals because it’s Aida,” Sohi says. “We love Aida! We love her music. But we also wanted to add our own interpretation, or (…) add something new to it. So there were some of the pieces that we changed a little bit based on (our) different backgrounds.”

Below, listen to a conversation with Shahghasemi and Sohi recorded prior to the concert, and find out more about 

Ines Guanchez is an associate digital producer for classical. An accomplished pianist, she founded Dúo Ávila with fellow Venezuelan violinist Sofia Schutte. The ensemble focuses on music by composers outside of the classical canon and has performed in venues in Minnesota and Costa Rica. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with master’s degrees in mass communications and piano performance. She previously interned for Minnesota Public Radio in 2018.


Provided

Ines Guanchez

Shahghasemi invited three Minnesota-based Iranian musicians from different walks of life to collaborate on the second installment of her residency at the Minneapolis nightclub called Berlin. The performance featured Shahghasemi’s own music through the lens of various genres including classical, contemporary, jazz and Iranian folk music.


A woman standing among plants and flowers in a garden

Aida Shahghasemi 'weaves a common thread' during her residency at Minneapolis nightclub Berlin

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