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Showcase Series

Walking into the Middle East

Friday, May 29 at 12 p.m.

Join members of the Hasht Cello Octet as they take you on a musical journey and guide you through the villages and diverse tribes of the Middle East.

Come and sit beside an Afghan shepherd, as he breathes life into a folk melody on his handmade panpipe. Pass through a Bakhtiari village in western Iran, where a lover shares a sorrowful song—echoing the ache of separation. Wander with us along the Bosphorus in Istanbul, with seagulls calling overhead, while the voice of an Armenian woman rises gently in celebration of spring.

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Meet our Artists

Hasht Cello Octet

May 29 Artist

Hasht Cello Octet is a newly formed ensemble of eight cellists based in Toronto. “Hasht” means eight in Farsi—a direct reflection of our instrumentation, but also a nod to our cultural roots. Our ensemble was created to spotlight original works by Middle Eastern composers, particularly Iranian voices, while building meaningful artistic connections within Canada’s diverse musical landscape. Melodies rooted in history and culture, passed from heart to heart across generations. We relive these timeless stories once again—reshaped by memory, migration, and cultural dialogue—reimagined for ensemble through the voice of eight cellos.