Percussion Tutor
Esmail Fathi is a multi-instrumentalist from Iran whose expertise is in traditional Persian instruments, including the tonbak, daf, setar and santur, as well as classical Persian vocals. Esmail teaches Simurgh Music School's Persian percussion group of daf & tonbak students, and leads the group's Persian traditional performances.
String Tutor
Liam Oliver is a multi-instrumentalist from Christchurch, New Zealand, who specializes in traditional stringed instruments from around the world. A guitarist for most of his life, he has since ventured into studying and also teaching instruments such as the Persian setar, tar, Indian sitar, Afghan rabab, Turkish saz, oud, Greek bouzouki, Kazakh dombra, and more.
Vocalist
Abdelilah Rharrabti is an accomplished singer from Morocco, skillful in Quran recitation and Arabic nasheeds (traditional Islamic songs). His voice is often heard leading the adhan (call to prayer) at Al-Noor Mosque and most Eid-Al-Fitr Festivals, and is therefore a treasured voice among the Christchurch Muslim Communities. Abdelilah leads Simurgh Music group's Arabic perfromances.
Bansuri & Percussion
Nelson Myers-Daly is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in a range of wind and percussion instruments. His percussion prowess includes riq, bendir, frame drum, and tabla to name a few. Nelson is also adept in bansuri (Indian bamboo flute) and has studied the instrument at Vindaban Gurukul, the Indian Classical music institution founded by bansuri maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia himself.
Oud
Pragunya Myers-Daly is an experienced guitarist and oud player, who along with his son Nelson are known for their work as Monk Party. Accomplished in their own right, their meditative and devotional music is influenced by Indian Classical and other world genres, and is based on the compositions and poems of their teacher Sri Chinmoy.
Vocalist
Waris Rajput, a seasoned Qawwali singer from Punjab, India with extensive experience singing Sufi devotional and semi-classical music at hundreds of Sufi shrines, temples and gurudwaras across India. Waris is also well-versed in Gurbani (Sikh devotional music), and has a Bachelors of Performing Arts in Indian Classical music. Waris leads Simurgh’s Qawwali and Indian semi-classical performances.
