Presented by Small World Music and the Aga Khan Museum

Let the enchanting sounds of the haegeum, gayageum, and geomungo lead you on a sonic journey of music and dance with the dynamic Korean music group, Maegandang. Named after the word Maegandang (魅衎黨), meaning a group of people who charm and entertain the audience, the group's three artists will captivate you with their reimagining of traditional music.

In the second half of the performance, Maegandang will be joined by Sashar Zarif, a multifaceted dancer, composer, singer, and percussionist. Zarif's work bridges bodily movement with sound, drawing inspiration from Central Asian Sufi and Shamanic traditions.

Explore the historical interactions between Korea and Central Asia forged along ancient trade routes like the Silk Road, which facilitated the exchange of not only goods but also ideas, including musical ones. Discover the intriguing parallels between Korean and Central Asian music as you delve into the shared characteristics of two distinct yet interconnected musical traditions.

ALL TICKETS INCLUDE SAME DAY ADMISSION TO THE MUSEUM.

Maegandang
Since debuting in 2022, Maegandang has won several awards at some of the most important competitions in Korea's traditional music scene and completed a showcase at Seoul Music Week, Korea's main music platform.
Maegandang features:
Yejin Yu | Geomungo
Jiyeon Kim | Gayageum
Jaein Hwang | Haegeum

Sashar Zarif



Known for creating award-winning, multidisciplinary dance projects, Sashar Zarif is an internationally renowned performing artist, educator, and researcher. His work is steeped in the artistry and history of traditional, ritualistic, and contemporary dance and music of the Central Asian, Middle Eastern and North African regions, focusing on the Sufi and Shamanic practices within Muslim societies and beyond. Zarif and his dance theatre have toured across 40 countries, promoting cultural dialogue through intensive fieldwork, residencies, performances, and creative collaborations.



This project recognizes the Arts Council Korea and 60 years of friendship between Canada and Korea. We would also like to acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Canadian Government (Heritage Canada and Global Affairs Canada) specifically for this event.

The 2024 Small World Music Series is sponsored by TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment and funded by the Government of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.