Diaspora Arts Connection proudly presents another amazing performance of Music in-Takht. Founded by Egyptian violinist Basma Edrees in 2023, Music in-Takht is an instrumental ensemble dedicated to sharing and preserving Egyptian musical heritage within the San Francisco Bay Area. The ensemble members are devoted musicians who value the mission of this ensemble and with humility, hard work and confidence in their abilities take on the responsibility of being amongst the “Keepers” of Egyptian musical culture within the SF Bay Area.
The name, Music in-Takht, is a playful homophone that carries deep meaning. While it sounds like "intact," symbolizing the preservation of music at its finest, it's actually inspired by the word takht—the traditional ensemble of classical instrumentalists in Egypt and across the Arab speaking world.
This performance is 2 hours long, including a 15 minute intermission, and is appropriate for all ages.
About the artistS
Music in-Takht skillfully showcases the evolution of their nation's musical heritage from the classic elegance of past eras to the dynamic fusion of today's global influences. Join us for an unforgettable night where the echoes of the past harmonize with the beats of the present, creating a musical experience that transcends boundaries and celebrates the enduring spirit of Egyptian instrumental artistry. Basma Edrees: Violinist and founder of Music in-Takht, Moe Elshazly: Oudist, Amr Toppozada: Bassist, Mohamed Abdelradi and loay Dahbour: Percussionists, Ahmed Ragab: Egyptian hand drums, Jon Dryden: piano, Elyse Weakley: synth, and Estevan Romero: flute
Basma Edrees is a violinist, performer, and educator based in the SF Bay Area. She is the founder of Music in-Takht. Passionate about introducing the world to the rich music of her native country, Egypt, Edrees has given Arabic music workshops at UC Berkeley and Stanford. She also taught Arabic music, Modal and Tonal counterpoint at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and is currently on the violin faculty of Santa Clara University's department of Music. A graduate of Mannes School of Music and The Juilliard School in New York, Edrees also enjoys a career playing and teaching European classical music as well as Argentinian Tango music; the latter of which she learned under the tutelage of Guillermo Rubino; Head of strings at the prestigious Orquesta Escuela Emilio Balcarce in Buenos Aires.
Moe Elshazly is a self-taught oudist who started his musical journey in 2006 as a guitarist in Cairo’s progressive rock scene. After releasing an album as part of the duo “Auburn Mary”, Moe developed a strong interest in modal improvisation and jazz fusion. He found his way to Arabic music through early 20th century influences of Abdel Wahab and El-Qasabgi, as well as the improvisation-oriented folk traditions around the Mediterranean. Moe pursued his studies in Maqam theory at the Canadian Arabic Conservatory of Music and is committed to serving local music.
Seif Ibrahim is an Egyptian-American Ney player whose musical journey began with studying classical Western flute and piano as a child. His focus shifted to Arabic music in 2019 after a chance introduction to Professor Scott Marcus, with whom he studied Nay, Maqam theory, and performed in the UCSB Middle East Ensemble. Seif continues to study with prominent Ney performers Mohammed Fityan from Syria and Hani Elbadry from Egypt, while also performing around the Bay Area. He balances his passion for music with a career as a Software Engineer.
Born in the US to Egyptian parents, bassist Amr Toppozada began his musical journey as a child playing European classical violin. Growing into a multi-instrumentalist with interest in a wide range of musical styles, he spent many years playing bass, guitar, drums, keyboards, and violin in various Bay Area bands. Amr found an opportunity to explore Arabic music in earnest in 2010, through the Aswat Ensemble and in 2024 he joined Music in-Takht. Amr balances his love of music and building community through the arts with his career as a biochemist.
Mohamed Abdel-Radi began teaching himself to play Doumbek when he was about 6 years old. At 19, he began playing percussion in an ensemble that performed American and international music in Egypt. Soon after, he began performing and recording with critically acclaimed composers, singers, and musicians including Hamid El Shaery, Ehab Tawfik, Mahmoud Ellithy as well as Mohamed Mounir who pioneered the introduction of Nubian music into the musical language of Egypt as a whole. In 1995, he moved to the United States, where he has continued his music career and a career as a National Soccer Referee!
Palestinian drummer Loay Dahbour is the lead percussionist and percussion instructor of the Aswat Ensemble, and a videographer of short documentary films. He led San Francisco’s Sababa Band and toured with the Georges Lammam Ensemble. He also performed in the US tour of the Hanonah Palestinian Folk Band, one of the oldest and most prominent folk dance bands in the world. He recorded educational music tracks in the form of lullabies and folksongs for children. He toured the US with the muwashshahat singer Noor Mhana and his band. Loay studied at the Middle Eastern Music Institute in Kuwait, and with Mohsen Al Sawaf of the Massi Band in Egypt, as well as Reda Darwish who worked with Hani Mhanna's Band.
A trilingual artist, composer and drummer, Ahmed Ragab grew up in both Egypt and Japan. Originally from Egypt, he lived in both Egyptian and Japanese sounds during his childhood. A trilingual artist, composer and multi-instrumentalist, he has performed in various places around the world, including San Francisco, Philadelphia, Tokyo, and Cairo. He has performed with several notable artists in the Bay Area including, Audiopharmacy, Climbingpoetree, Nina Grae, Sasha Bayan, Teao Sense ,and YOURS. He has also been co-hosting and providing musical meditations and workshops around San Francisco since 2016 and now within the PinkStar Universe.
Jon Dryden is a Northern California-based pianist, keyboardist, and composer serving as Jazz Studies lecturer at San Jose State University since 2017. He holds a 2016 Master’s in Jazz Studies from SJSU, mentored by Dr. Billy Taylor. In the early 1990s, he moved to New York City, performing and recording with Michal Urbaniak’s Urbanator, touring internationally, and co-writing “The Abyss” with Lenny White for Renderers of Spirit. Dryden has toured with Regina Carter and Bobby Previte, collaborating with Norah Jones, Natalie Merchant, and Paula Cole. His string arrangements appear on David Byrne and Cole albums, with music in Capitalism: A Love Story, TV shows like Insomniac, and books Reading Lead Sheets and The Pro Keyboardist’s Handbook. He performs on Ren Geisick’s Love Song.
Elyse Weakley, M.M., is a versatile pianist, music director, educator, and composer known for championing contemporary repertoire and collaborative performance. She has worked closely with composers as both soloist and ensemble artist, performing with The Hurd Ensemble and Redwood Tango Ensemble. Their releases on Innova and Ears&Eyes Records and appearances at the Kennedy Center and major festivals highlight her dynamic artistry. A compelling soloist, she has performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto K.413 and innovative solo piano and electronics programs. She is also creator of Strike a Chord, an app advancing creative music theory pedagogy for students and educators worldwide.
Estevan Romero has been playing the flute for eleven years, bringing extensive experience and dedication to his craft. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from UC Davis and is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree from San Jose State University. Estevan has performed in a wide range of settings, including orchestras, chamber ensembles, and solo recitals, demonstrating versatility and artistry across various musical contexts.
Marwa Morgan is an Egyptian singer/songwriter based in New York City. She began singing at age 12 and has since performed on prestigious stages such as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Growing up in Cairo, Marwa's musical style has been heavily influenced by classical Arabic music. Her music blends elements of classical music tradition with modern musical elements. Her recently released single, Deif, is currently available for streaming on all major platforms
Photo credit: Teresa Tam & Loay Dahbour
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