Hafez Kotain
Owner and CEO of Hafez Percussion Inc.
+ Percussion Director at Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture + Percussion Director of University of Pennsylvania's Arab Percussion Ensemble.
Visit his website here.
Nomination:
Nominated by I Belong Philly: Hafez Kotain is the owner and chief executive officer at Hafez Percussion Inc. Kotain is also the percussion director at Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture and the Arab Percussion Ensemble at the University of Pennsylvania. He is an accomplished master percussionist with fluency in both Arab and Latin rhythms. He is a recipient of the prestigious 2013 Pew Fellowship in the Arts, which is awarded each year to 12 Philadelphia artists who are of exemplary talent. Kotain began studying the doumbek at the age of seven, first performed on stage at age nine, and went on to study with master percussionist Hady Jazan, winning the national percussion competitions in Syria for several years. Kotain first began his career as an educator, teaching a variety of percussion styles to dedicated students, musicians and music teachers. In 2010 and 2011, Kotain taught at the Arab Music Retreat led by the internationally acclaimed Arab music performer, Simon Shaheen. He has performed with Lebanese composer/musician Marcel Khalife and Al Mayadine Ensemble in their latest US and Canada tour for “Fall of the Moon: An Homage to the Poet Mahmoud Darwish.” Kotain has also toured with singer George Wassouf in Canada and the US, and has performed with acclaimed artist Sting, the Philadelphia Orchestra, Kareem Roustom and with actor and tenor Mandy Patinkin. Throughout the year Kotain teaches with Al-Bustan in various school and community-based programs, including a summer camp for youth, and a weekly course in percussion at the University of Pennsylvania.
About Hafez:
There is no better embodiment of vibrant multiculturalism than Hafez. Born in Venezuela to a Syrian family, he describes the beautiful Arabic community in Venezuela made up of mostly Syrian, Lebanese, and Palestinians. When Hafez was five years old, he moved to Syria, where he uncovered his familial roots, especially through local music. He returned to Venezuela at eighteen with his brother, who lived in the United States prior and asked Hafez to join him. Unfortunately, his brother passed away before Hafez could move. However, in 2005, he decided to make the move to the United States permanently.
Hafez wanted to be involved with music since he was a child. Now, as an adult, he mixes multiple cultures while creating music and teaching in a way that is extremely unique. While teaching children in Philly schools through Al Bustan, he would impress the Spanish-speaking children by letting them know he could understand what they were saying behind his back (never anything bad of course!). Hafez was the percussion director for Al Bustan for thirteen years. During the pandemic, he had to adapt and teach music percussion from a screen, which, while not ideal, he found a way to make work in a creative fashion. In 2021, he created his own corporation, Hafez Percussions, where he teaches new and experienced musicians.
One of Hafez’ main goals is to combine cultures and share knowledge. His advice to anyone who wants to become an expert like him: be patient, practice, and watch others play–but don’t “copy-and-paste” other artists. Get inspired and become your own self. Hafez is passionate about his art, and you can see that when he shares it with others. He is really excited to be recognized by the Everyday Genius program and to be able to share his skills to a wider audience.
Article by I Belong Philly. Created by Ben Goebel and Geórgia Consença.
Quotes From Hafez:
"It doesn't matter where you're from, what language you speak, what religion you come from…it doesn't matter, we become one family. This is how I've been teaching, and this is the way I'm going to teach all the time. Everyone is welcome."