Yoel Ben-Simhon

about

Yoel Ben-Simhon (composer, tenor, oud, piano, guitar and percussion) Israeli born of Moroccan parentage, Ben-Simhon has committed himself to researching the relationship between Jewish and Arabic music. He has studied Middle Eastern, classical, and jazz music, as well as opera voice techniques and Arabic singing. Ben-Simhon pursued his academic studies at the Mannes School of Music and received his BA and MA in music composition from Hunter College in 1998, studying with mentors Mr. Paul Moravec (Pulitzer prize winner) and Mr. Simon Shaheen (internationally acclaimed oud and violin virtuoso). He studied privately Jazz piano with Mr. Michael Cochrane and Leanne Ledgerwood. He also studies regularly oud with Mr. Bassam Saba (Simon Shaheen, Marcel Khalife, Fairuz) and theory with Dr. Ali Jihad Racy at the Classical Arabic music retreat in Mount Holyok. Ben-Simhon also plays several percussion instruments after studying with Mr. Glen Velez and Souran Baronian. Ben-Simhon is the founder and composer of the "Sultana Ensemble," which is comprised of musicians and a dancer from Arab, American and Israeli descent. He has recorded two CDs¹ with his ensemble and was recorded as a guest musician on other CDs¹. His latest CD with the Sultana Ensemble is getting aired on radio stations all over the world. He also co-produced and arranged the music for two CD recordings for the Ladino-fusion band "Sarah Aroeste," in which he plays and sings. He was the featured oud player on a soundtrack fo

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