Zawaya

Zawaya is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and presenting Arab American cultural heritage through music and art, and is a leading Arabic performing arts organization in the Bay Area. It strives to create bridges of understanding through its art. Its two main performing programs are ASWAT, a forty-five-member community music group of Arab and non-Arab musicians and singers (the largest Arab musical ensemble in the United States), and ASWAT Youth, offering instruction in classical Arabic instruments and vocals to young people ages six to eighteen. Zawaya reaches 2,000 people at one to two major concerts per year and between eight and ten public performances at such diverse venues as The Center for Peace & Compassion in Fairfax, California; San Francisco’s de Young Museum; and private homes. Renewed support would help the organization launch two programs to meet the needs of the community: a music program for toddlers in Silicon Valley and a Muslim Music Ensemble to help alter negative perceptions of Muslims through music.

Zawaya is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and presenting Arab American cultural heritage through music and art, and is a leading Arabic performing arts organization in the Bay Area. It strives to create connections across cultures through two main performing programs: Aswat, a 37-member ensemble of Arab and non-Arab musicians and singers (the largest Arabic musical ensemble in the United States), and Aswat Youth, which offers instruction in classical Arabic instruments and vocals to people ages six to 18.