Noor Wodjouatt

The first Afghan performer at The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage and The U.S. State Department

Noor Wodjouatt نور وجوهات is a leading traditional Afghan singer from Washington D.C. His breakthrough album, City of Love, features 11 tracks of authentic Afghan music.

Reviews

Everyone who came to the show enjoyed the music and it received excellent feedback. -David Chambers, Kennedy Center

We're thrilled to have them perform here. We've gotten such a great response from people. - Erin Dowdy, Kennedy Center

We are honored to have Afghan artists perform as beautifully as the Noor Wodjouatt Ensemble at the Kennedy Center. - Omaid Weekly, (the most widely read Afghan publication in the world)

We were so pleased to have the Noor Wodjouatt Ensemble perform at the State Department. The audience found the performance colorful, educational, and entertaining, and responded enthusiastically to the group. I am still receiving enthusiastic feedback!

-Caryl Tratten Fisher, State of the Arts Concert Series, U.S. State Department

Early life

Noor Wodjouatt نور وجوهات, son of Professor Nassir Ahmad Khan Wodjouatt M.D., one of Afghanistan's most prestigious physicians, was born in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan. From an early age, he was surrounded with music and poetry, and developed a love for the arts. He moved to France in 1980 and began to pursue an education in contemporary art, and worked in the International Center of Contemporary Art in Lyon, France. He changed his residence once again in 1990, and moved to the United States. Here, he participated in collective art exhibitions at the Washington Project for the Arts in 1992.

Career

When Noor came to America in 1990, he began to learn music from his older brother Bassir A. Wodjouatt, who plays the Rubob, a classical Afghan instrument. He studied classical Indian Raga from his cousin, Wali Raoufi. Mr. Raoufi is one of the best Afghan Sarod players, and has received classical Indian Raga training from Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, one of the most famous musicians of India. Mr. Raoufi has played concerts with Noor Wodjouatt نور وجوهات, and has helped him compose many of his songs. Noor Wodjouatt released a CD, by The Title of “City of Love” in 1999. He participated in interviews for Afghan Radio and TV, and has recorded music videos for the channel with talented dancer and choreographer, Lori Clark, who studied Kathak dancing in India, and has a master in dancing from American University. Noor’s style of singing is light ghazal, and he incorporates Rumi lyrics into his songs, as well as his uncle’s poetry, Ustad Ghulam Ahmad Naweed, one of Afghanistan’s well-known poets. He has performed in the Dance Festival of India for Lori Clark to dance to his music in 2003, and the Asian Pacific American Heritage Reception in May 2004. Noor Wodjouatt نور وجوهات was the first Afghan performer at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage in February 2006 and U.S. Department of State, Dean Acheson Auditorium in June 2006. He has also performed live twice for the Iranian TV Station Rang-a-rang, an internationally viewed station in April 4 and April 19, 2006 and Washington Folk Festival in June 2006. He performed twice at the Syracuse University, New York on August 27 and August 28 2006. On August 27 2006 after his concert at Syracuse University, New York he appeared live on Radio NPR (World Music Radio Show) for live performance and interview. On April 30 2007 he performed at the Taft School, Bingham Auditorium in Watertown, Connecticut. On September 18 2007 Noor performed at the Seton Hall University, Jubilee Auditorium, New Jersey. Noor Wodjouatt Ensemble گروه هنری نور وجوهات has been featured in national and international press releases.

References

Noor Wodjouatt official website STATE MAGAZINE (U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT OF STATE Page (46) Washington Post Potomac News Taft School Connecticut (Page 6) Syracuse Symposium 2006 AfghanMania Washintunes Omaid Weekly Omaid Weekly

External links

Virtual Afghans Syracuse University Seton Hall University Internation Week