Hejira

Hejira has performed at many music festivals, nationwide, in such cities as; Seattle, NYC, Sedona, Tucson, Newport,Tacoma, Phoenix, Cincinnati, Bowling Green, and more.

NPR Affiliate Radio interview - http://kuow.org/program.php?id=17979

Don Baragiano - Guitars
Ashraf Hakim - Cello

Don is the Founder and principle Composer for the group. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio,
Don attended the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music.
In the 1980s, he was hired by the Ministry of Finance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Don's long-time love of world music was solidified here when he was invited
to a private audience/master class with HRM King Faud's master musician,
Hamzah Mohammed Al-Bashir .
When Don returned to the States, he joined the New Europa Troubadours
and toured with them for 5 years. Shortly after he moved to Seattle in 2001
he formed Hejira, where he plays regularly for appreciative audiences.

Ashraf attended the High Institute for Arabic Music and performed as the
first chair cellist for the Cairo Opera House in Egypt for 16 years.
After listening to Voice of America on his father's crystal radio as a child,
he dreamed of coming to America. He was invited to the U.S. in 2005 to perform.
He has played in over 30 countries on six continents, and has even performed
on the Pyramids and Sphynx for Egyptian TV.
Ashraf says that, "my message of peace and soulful interpretation of classical,
jazz, Arabic, pop, contemporary music and ballads is my gift to humanity."
Hejira Accomplishments:

- 2011 New CD "Not of this World"
- 30 day tour of Brooklyn, NY... Manhattan, NY... Astoria, NY... Staten Island, NY... Columbus, OH...
Cincinnati, OH... Bloomington, IN... Colorado City, CO...Pueblo, CO... & Crestone, CO.
- 19 day/12 gig tour during Sept 2010 (OH/KY/WV)
- 2010 New CD "Releasing the HOW"
- Performed/toured twice in Sedona, AZ (2007 & 2008) for the “Musicians who need to be heard Network”
- Selected to perform at the International Day of Music in NYC, 2010
- Don’s original song "Moroccan Roll" plays on Internet Radio; www.OutboundMusic.com
- LIVE Radio shows @ KSER (Everett), KAOS (Olympia) & KUOW (Seattle)
- 2 Major International Webcasts - Seattle, WA & Sedona, AZ www.musiciansnet.org/hejira/
- Performed 5 times @ FolkLife and 3 times @ ArabFest in Seattle, WA
- Don’s original song “Hejira” was accepted by; www.songswithvision.com