Yosifah Rose

Paul Ohanesian, oud and percussion, is an exceptionally talented, well-known and well-respected member of the Bay Area Middle-Eastern music and dance community. As a gifted musician and member of the Bay Area Armenian community, Paul has been playing Middle Eastern music at festivals, clubs, and other cultural events since his youth.

Paul has been a performing musician in the greater San Francico Bay Area Armenian music scene since the tender age of 8 years old when he began performing at festivals and other cultural events as a percussionist under the tutelage of Charlie Alexanian. Paul shifted his musical focus from classical guitar to the Oud in 1973, as the result of a conversation with a violinist and a drummer at an Armenian party. Among his musical influences, he credits Richard Hagopian, John Bilezikjian, the legendary Syrian-born 'Ud Master (as well as famous singer, composer, actor, and movie producer) Farid Al Atrashe, and the late Iraqi Ud Master Munir Bashir. In 1977, he joined Robaire Nakashian to work with his Belly Dance Troupe, Zaghareet. The popular duo appeared at restaurants, festivals, and other cultural events. Paul has also been involved in projects with Peter Dorian, Alan Ishmael and Joe Zeytoonian.

Paul is a well-respected instructor of Armenian-style Oud (teaching beginning through advanced levels) at the Annual Middle Eastern Music Camp every summer in Mendocino, California. In addition to performing Arabic music on oud and percussion with Al 'Azifoon, he also performs Armenian and Turkish music as a soloist and with other highly regarded musicians including Armando Mafufo of the band Sirocco, Jim Karagozian, and Suren Baronian, as well as others. As a long-time member of the greater Bay Area Near Eastern Music scene, he has some imazing stories to tell of the "old days" from the North Beach San Francisco belly dance club scene! Incidently, Paul is married to Sharifa, a well-known local bellydance instructor, who was Yosifah's first formal dance instructor.

VIDEO: Paul demonstrates Armenian Oud technique for the Gilded Serpent Online Magazine at the 20th Annual Middle Eastern Camp held in August 2010.

Study Armenian Oud with Paul at Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp (www.middleeastcamp.com) every summer in Mendocino, CA! The Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp is held in a beautiful redwood forest near the California coast, inland from the town of Mendocino, 175 miles north of San Francisco. The MEMDC offers beginner through professional-level instruction in a wide variety of Middle Eastern, North African, and Near Eastern Music and Dance styles including Arabic, Turkish, Armenian, Persian, and more!

Or, if you prefer, go on tour to study with the Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp in Turkey! Info at http://www.middleeastcamp.com/tourhome.htm

Photo Left: Paul Ohanesian and Susu Pampanin, El Morocco Dancers Night with Al 'Azifoon, January 2008

Photo Right: Al 'Azifoon with Helm performing at World Dance Fitness Hafla, San Anselmo, CA June 2010