2:00 p.m. - Yinam Leef: "Art Music in Israel Today"

Israel, a country in the Western Asian Levant on the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, borders Lebanon to the north, Syria and Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest. Modern Israeli music is heavily influenced by its constituents, including Jewish immigrants from more than 120 countries around the world who have brought their own musical traditions, making Israel a global melting pot. This is where composer Yinam Leef grew up, where East meets West, old and new coexist, and local and universal aesthetics are apparent at a change of glance. In this lecture, Mr . Leef will present and discuss art music that has been written in Israel lately, by various composers representing different approaches, styles, and influences.

3:00 p.m. - Mohsen Namjoo: "Persian Poetry, Persian Music, and the Aesthetic Synergy"

In contemporary Iran today, the real music business is underground, and Mohsen Namjoo is one of the most important of the underground musicians. Born in 1976 to a traditional Iranian family, he grew up in the city of Mashhad, where he was sent to a vocal class organized by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Much later, he began recording his own compositions as a solo artist. He writes poetry with a unique modernist flair. In his trademark style, he sometimes uses satirical lyrics and blends them with the Classical poetry of Hafez, Rumi, and Saadi. His mixing of traditional Persian music with jazz and blues has earned him the reputation of "Iran's most controversial musician." In this lecture, Mohsen will discuss his own music, as well as the music and politics in today's Iran.

4:00 p.m. - Torang Abedian: "Not an Illusion"

After the Iranian Revolution, women were banned from singing solo before general audiences. The Iranian filmmaker Torang Abedian will present a preview screening of her new documentary, Not an Illusion. This film follows the life of a female musician in Tehran and gives viewers a glimpse of the challenges she faces in trying to achieve her dream and make sure that it is not an illusion. This is a preview; the world premiere will be held in Berlin in March of 2009.

Jindong Cai conducts the Stanford Symphony Orchestra as they open this year's Pan-Asian Music Festival:

Mohsen Namjoo combines Persian music with jazz, blues, satire, and poetry. He will perform his own compositions on traditional Persian and Western instruments. Please join the artist afterwards for a discussion about Iranian music. This event is a part of a weeklong residency, presented in collaboration with Iranian Studies at Stanford.

Kronos Quartet explores musical traditions of Eastern Europe and the Middle East, featuring Kronos-commissioned works by Ali-Zadeh, Vrebalov, Homayoun Sakhi, and Mesinai, plus traditional and popular songs from Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon. Presented in collaboration with Stanford Lively Arts.

Generously supported by the Sarah Ratchye and Edward Frank Family Foundation and the Office of the Dean, School of Humanities and Sciences.

Jindong Cai conducts works for orchestra and traditional Asian instruments by women composers from Asia:

Post-concert "meet the composer" discussion with visiting artists Chen Yi and Hyo-shin Na immediately following the concert.

The Stanford Wind Ensemble, directed by Giancarlo Aquilanti, and special guests The California State University East Bay Wind Ensemble, perform Chen Yi's Suite from China West, Aquilanti's Moroccan Melody, and other works.

This concert, conducted by Martin Fraile, will feature contemporary and electroacoustic works by Asian composers and will be presented using cutting-edge technology and multimedia. The program includes works by Joji Yuasa, Toru Takemitsu, Kamran Ince, Lou Harrison, Zhou Long, Yinam Leef, and others.

Joji Yuasa will give a brief pre-concert lecture at 1 p.m.

Jindong Cai and Stephen M. Sano conduct the Symphonic Chorus and Symphony Orchestra for the Pan-Asian Music Festival's rousing grand finale:

Sponsored in part by the Office of Religious Life at Stanford.