Al Qahwa
Al Qahwa performs original compositions, as well as popular traditional Arabic repertoire – from Sufi Devotional Love songs from the Arab World to popular folk songs.
Al Qahwa
Al Qahwa performs original compositions, as well as popular traditional Arabic repertoire – from Sufi Devotional Love songs from the Arab World to popular folk songs.
Join Al Qahwa, a dynamic ensemble of virtuoso musicians, for an unforgettable musical journey that bridges cultures and hearts. Led by the mesmerizing vocals of Maryem Tollar, who enchants audiences with her mastery of the riqq (Arabic tambourine) and qanun (Arabic table harp), the band features Ernie Tollar on evocative wind instruments, Demetri Petsalakis on the oud (Arabic fretless lute), Naghmeh Fahrahmand on dazzling percussion, Waleed Abdulhamid on bass and vocals, and Lauren Barnett on harmony-rich backup vocals and saxophone.
Al Qahwa weaves together original compositions and beloved Arabic classics—from Sufi devotional love songs and vibrant folk melodies to the timeless hits of Egypt’s golden age. In a breathtaking highlight, Maryem Tollar delivers an a cappella rendition of Afdihi fi Hafidhal Hawa Ow Diy’a, a passionate and soul-stirring performance that transcends cultural barriers, igniting raw emotion and connecting deeply with every listener.
Prepare to be transported by Al Qahwa’s rich tapestry of sound, where every note celebrates the power of music to unite, inspire, and move us all.
“The newly formed Al Qahwa Ensemble has already established itself as a champion of harmony and understanding. With conflict in the Middle East and as Syria continues to face unimaginable loss and destruction, the Al Qahwa Ensemble breathes life into the artistic traditions from these regions and gives audiences a new appreciation for them.”
Dorian Cox, Canadian Opera Company | Program Manager, Free Concert Series
“…the most stunning musical moment of the evening, the superb Tollar singing, a capella, Afdihi in Hafidhal Hawa Ow Diy’a, a solo that transcended cultural barriers, a passionate, soulful, heart-rending bit of intense emotion that reached every person in Koerner Hall, Eastern, Western, whatever.”
Robert Harris, The Globe and Mail
Join Al Qahwa, a dynamic ensemble of virtuoso musicians, for an unforgettable musical journey that bridges cultures and hearts. Led by the mesmerizing vocals of Maryem Tollar, who enchants audiences with her mastery of the riqq (Arabic tambourine) and qanun (Arabic table harp), the band features Ernie Tollar on evocative wind instruments, Demetri Petsalakis on the oud (Arabic fretless lute), Naghmeh Fahrahmand on dazzling percussion, Waleed Abdulhamid on bass and vocals, and Lauren Barnett on harmony-rich backup vocals and saxophone.
“The newly formed Al Qahwa Ensemble has already established itself as a champion of harmony and understanding. With conflict in the Middle East and as Syria continues to face unimaginable loss and destruction, the Al Qahwa Ensemble breathes life into the artistic traditions from these regions and gives audiences a new appreciation for them.”
Dorian Cox
Canadian Opera Company – Program Manager | Free Concert Series.