The Shellharbour Civic Centre will come alive on Friday evening 25 June for an exciting live music event.

The concert will be held during Refugee Week, to celebrate the amazing talent and rich culture that comes from all nations. Rising star, Masha Mnoyan, the Voice Australia’s 2020 finalist and winner of The Voice Armenia, will join Illawarra’s admired and talented classical guitarist, Sako Dermenjian, who was born in Armenia and lived in Syria.

The band is completed by Sydney percussionist, Atif Badria and keyboardist, Matthew Thompson, who will together perform a mixture of cultural, blues, jazz and popular music.

Grazing boxes will also be on offer, prepared by the Centre’s resident Civic Square Café. These can feed up to 2 people as after-dinner nibbles, and you may BYO alcohol/non-alcoholic beverages to accompany grazing box.

Ticket costs have been subsidised by a Multicultural NSW Government grant and you can also use your Discover NSW Voucher before it runs out! This makes it an even more affordable concert of high calibre musicians.

Tickets are limited and tables are set to 5, so gather your friends for a post-dining evening event that is set to impress. This event is recommended for Adults. Get your tickets now via: https://events.humanitix.com/masha-sako

More information on the musicians…

Masha

Having won the Armenian version of The Voice in 2013 and building a reputation as a talent to watch, MASHA MNJOYAN worked across the world on many international stages and in leading venues, winning over audiences everywhere. Now Masha has also captivated Australian viewers with her incredible vocal talent, on her way to the semi-finals of 2020s The Voice Australia. She is a powerhouse singer, with an incredible range and technique, able to handle any sized room or auditorium, to bring the audience close to her by developing that magic connection all artists desire to create. At the same time, she is capable of effortlessly switching her approach to a subtle, intimate style that allows her to succeed as a jazz and jazz/folk singer as well. Listen to her interpret love songs and ballads, where warmth, emotion, and delicacy of expression are the keys, and you will marvel at her art.

https://www.facebook.com/masha.mnjoyan

Sako

Sako Dermenjian is an Armenian classical guitarist, born and raised in Syria, now based in Australia. As he experienced great changes in his life and circumstances, the guitar became one of the few constants over the next few years of Sako’s life. After studying with the great Mazen Al-Saleh for 9 years in Damascus, Sako was already on the path of achieving his dream to become a world-renowned classical guitarist and teacher. Upon his arrival to Australia and relocation to Wollongong NSW, the Lord Mayor invited him to perform at the Wollongong Australia Day awards dinner. Later that year he was invited to play in front of a global audience at TEDx Wollongong and talk about his journey under the theme ’It’s about time’. In 2018 Sako won the first prize of Sydney Eisteddfod. He graduated with a Bachelor of Performance in Classical Guitar at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with his teacher Dr.Vladimir Gorbach. He now studies a Masters of Music Studies (Performance) on merit scholarship at Sydney Conservatorium. Sako is sponsored by Yamaha

https://www.facebook.com/sakodermenjian/    |    https://www.sakodermenjian.com/  

Atif Badria

Originating from Damascus in Syria, Atif Badria arrived in Australia in 2012 and now proudly calls Sydney home. Picking up his first darbuka at the tender age of five, Atif showed promise, making his on stage debut at only eleven, and forming a career as a professional musician from only sixteen years old. Studying with renowned Jamal Al Saka, Atif has gone on to master not only his beloved darbuka but a variety of world percussion instruments including the cajon, timbales, dolholla, riq, djembe, khishba and more. With a career that has taken him around the world, Atif has been invited to tour alongside the giants of Middle Eastern music, including George Wassouf, Wael Kfoury, Melhem Zein, Wael Jassar, Nancy Ajram, Nassif Zeytoun and Hussein and Ali Deek. When asked about his love of percussion Atif explains that it’s because it provides the necessary heartbeat to give music life, and like life, has its own unique timing. His passion is evident as he explains the wonder of the darbuka and it’s ability to be so versatile but only having three notes. One of the most in demand and respected musicians in Australian Middle Eastern music, Atif is recognised as an unmatched talent, widely respected as a highly disciplined professional and inspirational teacher.

Matthew Thompson

Matthew Thomson is an award winning pianist and composer from Sydney, Australia. After completing his Bachelors degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with 1st Class Honours, Matthew received his Masters of Music in Jazz Performance at the New England Conservatory in Boston, USA. During his time in America, Matthew performed alongside musical luminaries including Dave Holland, Miguel Zenon, Freddy Cole, Dave Douglas, Ben Folds and Taylor Dane.

---