Presented by the Aga Khan Museum
In association with Small World Music

Celebrate Nowruz with an evening of contemporized Ukrainian folk songs by Kosa Koliadnyky, followed by a performance by Afghan-American rabab player Qais Essar. Observed by communities all across the world, Nowruz is a celebration of rebirth and renewal, marking the first day of Spring.



Contemporary Afghan composer, instrumentalist, and producer Qais Essar creates his melodic designs on the rabab — a 2,500-year-old instrument from Afghanistan. Named "a master of the rabab" by the NY Daily News, he has released several critically acclaimed albums, earning him a spot as an Amazon #1 Bestseller. Essar has composed original music for film and television, including Oscar-nominated films The Breadwinner (2017) and Three Songs for Benzair (2021).

Essar continues to be featured in festivals and venues worldwide, including the Newport Folk Festival, SXSW, The Kennedy Center, and Treefort Music Festival.

The 2023 Small World Music Series is generously supported by TD Bank of Canada, the Government of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.