Events & Workshops

Middle Eastern Treasures Concert

Click here for flyer

Afternoon of Music, Drums and Dance
Sunday, October 25th in Oakland
Presented by nationally acclaimed Middle Eastern percussionist and recording artist Mary Ellen Donald

Featuring:
Six-piece Arabic music ensemble withNazir Latouf, oud and vocals; Sarah Michael, qanun; Yoko Abe, violin; Mary Ellen Donald, Angelena Kyzar Crowhurst and Brian Nutson, percussion

Singers from the Aswat Choir

Mozaik, a vocal ensemble presenting haunting harmonies from around the world

Two elaborate compositions for percussion ensembles, featuring special guests
Rasa Vitalia, Brazilian dance; Peter Herbert, surdo drum; John Landers, shakereé; Darrin Barnett, djembe; and Vladimir Cardema, didgeridoo

Belly Dance by Amira Ariana

Belly Dance by April Faith

Audience Dancing

Date: Sunday, October 25th
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 5:15pm

Location: Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, Oakland, CA 94609 (between Broadway and Telegraph; parking lot available for early arrivers (for directions check www.humanisthall.org)

Tickets: $17 adults, $8 children under 12. No advance ticket sales
Ticket price includes complimentary wine and other beverages.
Special note: We invite you to help us make this a feast by bringing a potluck dish (not a beverage) to share. Yes, a public potluck actually can work!

For more details call Mary Ellen at (510) 654-DRUM (3786)
Mary Ellen Donald has been a nationally acclaimed Middle Eastern percussionist, recording artist, and teacher for more than 30 years. To learn more about Mary Ellen and her contributions to the field of Middle Eastern music, visit www.maryellendonald.com

Hello Mary Ellen,

WOW!   Your Birthday Bash at Humanist Hall was the most amazing musical feast EVER!  I do not want to forget to thank you ever so much for celebrating your birthday at Humanist Hall!

It was such a fantastic, spectacular, world class, music and dance phenomenon.  The music was so gorgeous.  Your medley, your song about summertime, was the best tribute to summer I've EVER heard.  It was so beautiful and haunting, it gave me goose bumps.  And the belly dancer was out of this world, pure liquid, pure magic.  Your music and song, and her dancing, were all so wonderfully creative and eclectic and captivating -- it was impossibly enjoyable -- hard to describe -- completely fulfilling!

Thank you again!  I have the deepest appreciation for your music!

~ Fellowship of Humanity

Booking

Sittat al Qalb (Women of the Heart)
Mary Ellen Donald: Cymbals, Doumbec, Tambourine and Tar &
Nanna Candelaria: Belly Dance
In an educational and entertaining drum and dance duo! Available for performances in schools K-12 through out the San Francisco Bay Area. Call Young Audiences of California at 415-974-5554 to learn how to book this uplifting presentation for schools in your area!

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Hot Arabic Band For Hire!

Nazir Latouf, from Syria: oud and voice; Mary Ellen Donald: doumbec; and a first rate tambourinist, either Terry Holgate or Susie Goldenstein. A perfect Arabic band for any occasion: private parties, belly dance recitals, world music concerts, Arab weddings and Arabic cultural events. Nazir's extraordinarily rich repertoire spanning the entire Arab world, Mary Ellen's mastery of Arabic drumming and the charismatic, passionate playing of the two of them together make sparks fly and audiences beg for more.

Call Mary Ellen to hire the band that aims to please and does: 510-654-DRUM (3786) Check out sound bites from Nazir's CD "Arabian Passion", elsewhere on this site and video clips from "the Silk Road Experience" DVD also on this site to see for yourself.

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Mary Ellen Donald is available for out of town workshops and shows.  For more information, call Mary Ellen at (510) 654-DRUM (3786) or send e-mail to: me@maryellendonald.com

Listen to a live performance of Nazir Latouf and Mary Ellen Donald.

To hear a song sample, click on Listen
Ahla Tarik (The Sweetest Path) - Egyptian Melody	Listen	Listen
Oud Taqsim by Nazir Latouf	Listen	Listen
Allah Allah Ya Baba	Listen	Listen