We are honored to Co-Present a performance of Strings For Peace at the Meany Center for the Performing Arts at the UW on March 24th. In preparation for that show Darek Mazzone spoke to Sharon Isbin & Ayaan Ali Bangash about the concert, recent history, and what motivates them to create this beguiling sound. Amjad Ali Khan is a renowned sarod player and a leading figure in Indian classical music. His family has a long and rich musical tradition, spanning several generations, and his sons Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash are also accomplished musicians who have performed with their father on numerous occasions. Sharon Isbin is a Grammy-winning classical guitarist who has gained international recognition for her virtuosity and interpretive skills. She has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including jazz musicians, folk singers, and orchestral ensembles. The fusion of Spanish guitar and Indian ragas in Strings for Peace is an interesting and innovative approach to bridging cultural divides through music. By blending two distinct musical traditions, the artists are able to create a unique and harmonious sound that celebrates the beauty and diversity of both cultures. About SAMA: Seattle Sacred Music & Art (SAMA) curates, produces, and collaborates on an immersive series of music and art performances that share the healing power of global sacred music. New videos presented every Thursday. We are dedicated to share with you the best and most compelling artists in the world. SAMA was launched in 2019 as a way to foster understanding and dialogue through global music during a time of extreme political and cultural polarization. Co-founders Darek Mazzone and John M. Goodfellow, both long-time Seattle residents, have created SAMA in order to help expand global sacred music’s impact on the human spirit. “We want to open people’s hearts,” says Mazzone, a KEXP DJ and Polish immigrant who moved to the US as a child, “that’s what imbues our sense of humanity.” SAMA aims to help bring as many outstanding international artists to the Pacific Northwest to perform as possible as life resumes in public spaces. Through musical performances, global artists have the power to challenge out preconceived notions of what “the other” thinks and feels.