The Mosaic Ensemble will present a concert at HotHouse, 31 E. Balbo in Chicago, at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15. The Mosaic Ensemble, representing musicians from the Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble, performs traditional instrumental music from the Arabic, Turkish, Armenian, and Sephardic repertoire. Members of the Mosaic Ensemble are Hicham Chami, qanun; Kim Sopata, flute; Kinan Abou-Afach, cello; and Douglas Brush, percussion. Magda, a Middle Eastern dancer, will perform during the second set.

Hicham Chami is a Moroccan-born musician who has studied qanun for twenty years. He is founder of the Mosaic Ensemble and the Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble, which have performed at the Oriental Institute, Chicago Cultural Center, United Nations, Symphony Space, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Harvard University, Kennedy Center, Georgetown University, and numerous other cultural venues around the U.S. The CCOE most recently performed at the Festival du Monde Arabe de Montreal on November 11. Chami is founder and director of Xauen Music, an organization dedicated to preserving the heritage of classical Arabic, Turkish, Armenian, and Sephardic music, as well as the Heartland Seminars on Arab Culture.

Flutist Kim Sopata received her B.M. from Northwestern University and M.A. in Ethnomusicology from Bethel University in St. Paul. Her orchestral appearances include numerous performances with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, South Carolina Philharmonic, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra, and Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra. Sopata is also a flute educator, and maintains a Chicago-area studio.

Syrian cellist Kinan Abou-Afach began his study at the age of eight at the Arabic Institute of Music in Damascus. Abou-Afach moved to Chicago in 2000 to obtain his master's degree at the DePaul University School of Music. He is currently a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Along with his classical curriculum, Abou-Afach has been experimenting with creating a modern genre of traditional Middle Eastern music based on his studies and experience in classical and modern music, applying it to the Arabic maqam system (Arabic scales).

Percussionist Douglas Brush received a B.M. with honors from Roosevelt University. He is very active as a performer in the Midwest, writing and performing in a variety of settings including theatre, film, chamber music, ethnic music, and jazz. His composition credits and recordings include music for modern dance concerts, films, industrials, and commercials. Brush is a founding member and leader of The Rhythmunity Ensemble, a world percussion ensemble, and is head of the percussion department at the Merit School of Music.

Magda is a Middle Eastern dancer who has studied with Leila Gamal, Cassandra, Dahlena, and numerous other dance masters. Her style of dance is improvisational and interpretive. Magda, who holds a master's degree from DePaul University, is also a yoga instructor and is certified in Transformational Imagery. Locally, she has performed at International House, Elmhurst College, Chicago Botanic Garden, and House of Blues. Magda is a member of the Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association.