Philosophical Research Society
3910 Los Feliz Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90027
3910 Los Feliz Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90027
A transportive mediative experience using the electronically extended voice with Fahad Siadat, featuring dancer André Megerdichian, and directed by Jennifer Deckert.
This one hour event is one-part deep listening soundbath, one-part contemporary dance performance, and one-part ecstatic meditation. This event is part of an on-going exploration of the intersection between creative and spiritual practices with composer/performer Fahad Siadat, dancer/choreographer André Megerdichian, and director/choreographer Jennifer Deckert. This presentation is part of the development process towards a larger work that seeks to incorporate the tools from existing ritual transformative practices into a contemporary music and dance work that will lead both artists and audiences towards a trance state. This piece is inspired by a number of traditions including the Sama practice of sufism, Balinese monkey chant, and the acid tests of the merry pranksters. This event will be the first public presentation exhibiting our initial research and experimentation of how to effectively utilize these artistic ritual tools as vehicles for achieving meaningful transcendental experiences.
This one hour event is one-part deep listening soundbath, one-part contemporary dance performance, and one-part ecstatic meditation. This event is part of an on-going exploration of the intersection between creative and spiritual practices with composer/performer Fahad Siadat, dancer/choreographer André Megerdichian, and director/choreographer Jennifer Deckert. This presentation is part of the development process towards a larger work that seeks to incorporate the tools from existing ritual transformative practices into a contemporary music and dance work that will lead both artists and audiences towards a trance state. This piece is inspired by a number of traditions including the Sama practice of sufism, Balinese monkey chant, and the acid tests of the merry pranksters. This event will be the first public presentation exhibiting our initial research and experimentation of how to effectively utilize these artistic ritual tools as vehicles for achieving meaningful transcendental experiences.
Performers
Fahad Siadat |
Fahad Siadat creates interdisciplinary pieces exploring the intersection of creative and religious practices that “border on being a spiritual journey” (LA Dance Chronicle). His work is described by the press as “evoking wonder, desire, and terror” (Off Broadway), “hypnotic” (Backstage) and having “a sophisticated harmonic vocabulary” (San Diego Story). Fahad is the director of the Resonance Collective, a multifaceted organization which explores and expands our definition of sacred music through the creation of original works, the curation of the Golden Thread Concert Series, and empowering other creative artists to tell their own sacred stories through the N.E.O. Voice Festival, a week-long celebration of new music for the voice. He is also the director and singing member of LA’s premiere new music vocal ensemble HEX, an award-winning sextet described by the LA Times as “a luminous ensemble of singers”. HEX is ensemble-in-residence at the HEAR NOW Festival and regularly performs contemporary opera, oratorio, and chamber music at such events as The Vision and Voices, Tuesdays@MonkSpace, and the Masters in the Chapel Concert Series. Fahad maintains a robust performing and recording schedule, and has performed as soloist with such groups as LA’s groundbreaking opera company The Industry, and the Grammy Award-Winning ensemble PARTCH, as well as on recordings for TV, Film, Video Games, and artistsincluding Toby Twining, Daniel Lentz, and Jeonghyeon Joo. As a composer Fahad is regularly commissioned to compose for concert music ensembles, dance companies, and theater troupes including: Theater Dybbuk, Rosanna Gamson/World Wide, Monmouth University, Cor Cantiamo, Northeastern State University, the award winning Armada Films, Jacksonville Dance Theater, the California EAR Unit, New Century Players, and the TOCCATA Orchestra. His music has been performed in Europe, China, and across the United States. He is an experienced conductor for both opera and chorus and has music directed works with Long Beach Opera, The Resonance Collective, Overtone Industries, and been assistant conductor of The Industry opera company. As a choral director, Fahad has conducted the Chaffey College Concert and Chamber Choirs, the CalArts Institute Choir and Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, Columbia University Glee Club, C3LA, and C4: The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective. Fahad is a sought after vocal clinician and has made workshop appearances with ensembles from coast to coast. In addition to his creative work, Fahad has a reputation as a dynamic speaker and has given keynote addresses, commencement speeches, and guest lectures at San Diego University, Northern Illinois University, Whittier College, Northeastern State University, Tufts University, California State University Long Beach, Institute of the Arts – Barcelona, CalArts, CSU Fullerton, Concordia College, Ashland High School, and the Kaufman Center in New York. He has been featured in over a dozen podcasts, print magazines, and online publications. He regularly writes articles for NewMusicBox and the Choral Journal and has presented on various topics at conferences for the American Choral Directors Association, Chorus America, the NY Choral Consortium, and Classical: NEXT. Fahad is an experienced arts entrepreneur and is the founder of The Resonance Collective, C3LA: The Contemporary Choral Collective of Los Angeles, the C4 Network, and of See-A-Dot Music Publishing, Inc., a company devoted to the advocacy of new choral works and emerging composers. Fahad holds degrees from Vanderbilt University and the California Institute of the Arts, from which he received the degree Doctor of Musical Arts. fahadsiadat.com // @fahad.siadat |