Mizrahi Music, Feminist Perspectives

After years of marginalization, exoticization, and misrepresentation, Mizrahi musicians are reclaiming their musical roots. 

Mizrahi Music, Feminist Perspectives explores the histories and current revival of the diverse musical styles of Jewish women from the Middle East and North Africa. This symposium will include scholarly analysis of this musical movement, as well as performances that offer contemporary interpretations of ancestral musical traditions and bring forgotten women’s voices to the fore

Event Agenda:

Introductions & Lunch: Dr. Rachel Kranson & Dr. Michal R. Friedman
1. Scholarly perspectives on Mizrahi Music, Feminist Perspectives

Panelists: Naama Perel, Dr. Tamar Sella, Re’ee Hagay

Moderator: Dr. Deane Root
2. Performances: Naama Perel, Shani Oshri, Laura Elkeslassy

3. Post-Performance

Conversation Naama Perel, Shani Oshri, Laura Elkeslassy
Co-Moderators: Dr. Hilla Nehushtan & Dr. Nevine Abraham

Bios of Participants:

• Laura Elkeslassy: Performer vocalist whose work focuses on reclaiming Morrocan-Jewish liturgical traditions & North African folk music
• Naama Perel Tzadok: Composer of Yemenite Jewish Music, Phd candidate in Music at the University of Pittsburgh
• Dr. Tamar Sella: Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology in the College of Music, University of North Texas
• Re’ee Hagay: PhD candidate, Department of Near Eastern Studies with a focus on Judaism in the Global South, Cornell University
• Shani Oshri: Performer & vocalist, with specialties in Yemeni and Persian Classical Music