On November 19, the Saami Brothers will bring their extraordinary Qawwali tradition to the acoustically magnificent and visually stunning Church of the Epiphany in downtown Washington, DC....
CCV in 2025: Supporting and Invigorating Cultural Traditions
Everything below reflects a year of CCV’s intentional, hands-on work assisting artists, building trust across communities, and supporting and invigorating cultural traditions. CCV takes risks alongside artists, responds nimbly to opportunities as they arise, and keeps our work artist-focused and vibrant. We are so grateful to our many partners and…...
Healing Khayal & Qawwali: Ancient Sounds Finding New Ears
When we first met the Saami family, we stepped into a living tradition that has carried the breath of imagination for nearly 800 years. The art of Khayal—meaning “imagination”—is among the oldest forms of Hindustani vocal improvisation, passed carefully from master to student, generation to generation. Through our partnership with the…...
Saami and sons tour captivates audiences in three states
From April 4–6, Khayal living legend Ustad Naseeruddin Saami, his sons, and their student Zeb Bangash embarked on a sold-out, three-city tour, captivating audiences in Queens, NY, Vienna, VA, and Chicago, IL with support through the Center for Cultural Vibrancy. Each evening began with Zeb Bangash making her Khayal debut.…...
CCV presents Ustad Naseeruddin Saami and sons with special guest Zeb Bangash
Ustad Naseeruddin Saami is a classical vocalist of rarely heard depth, power, and presence. He is a master of both khayal (which roughly translates to imagination) and qawwali, and the very last living practitioner of a mesmerizing and ancient 49-note microtonal vocal scale that dates back over 800 years. Join…...
Khayal as Cure: Transformative Music with Ustaad Saami & Sons, 2025 Residency Application
We are excited to announce the opening of applications for an exclusive 4-week apprenticeship with Ustaad Nasiruddin Saami and his sons, The Saami Brothers. This unique opportunity offers intensive 1:1 and group training sessions focused on the fundamentals of voice culture (finding your true singing voice) and an exposure to…...
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