World concert series begins with Arabic music

The World Vibration Concert Series for 2009 will open with Arabic music by local physician and musician Bishr Hijazi at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Winchester Cultural Center Theater, 3130 S. McLeod Drive. Tickets are $10 general admission, $7 for children and seniors.

Hijazi will perform traditional and contemporary music of the Arab world on the oud , a pear-shaped, stringed instrument. He will be joined by brothers Charl and Charbel Azzi on traditional Arabic percussion.

Pieces performed will include traditional compositions of the 19th and early 20th centuries, poetic compositions of Andalusian origin, popular folk songs and contemporary works.

Hijazi, an instrumentalist, arranger and composer, first appeared as a solo classical guitarist during a recital in Damascus, Syria, in 1993. Since then, he has performed a series of concerts in Jordan, Syria and the United States playing Arabic and Middle Eastern music, as well as Spanish flamenco pieces. He is a practicing hand and microsurgeon in Las Vegas.

For tickets and further details about the concert and World Vibration series, call 455-7340.