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Music

  • Tiglat Issabey

    Music Director

    Phone (773) 863-3550
    Email tiglat.issabey@auaf.us

At AUAF, we feel that education and engagement in the musical arts are a vital part of the development of each individual. Music is a part of the cultural heritage of every human being, serving as a common thread for people around the world.

The Nebu J. Issabey Music Program is an intensive program intended to train students in their instrument of study. Our program offers both private lessons in piano, violin, cello, clarinet, flute, and group lessons in guitar. We also offer voice lessons.

Our goal is to identify Assyrian Americans with exceptional talents at an early age, encouraging them to develop their talents in order to become effective cultural leaders. We strive to empower Assyrian students and provide them with the tools they need to excel in pursuing artistic studies and careers. Our mission is to produce excellent Assyrian American musicians in a four-year study program.

Staff

Tiglat Issabey, Program Director

Sabria Khosho, Program Coordinator

Rasson Betyonan, Lead Instructor

Safaa Sarefian, Piano Instructor

Athanasios Zervas, Woodwind Instructor

Kjell S. Sleipness, Violin Instructor

Jacob Andrew Miller, Violin Instructor

Rebecca Zimmerman, Cello Instructor

Edmond Ebrahimi, Guitar Instructor

 

 

Apply

We are currently accepting applications for our Summer 2019 semester. Parents of prospective students may enroll their child by completing an application. Registration is open to Assyrian students.

Click here to register

Current Students

Class Schedule

Mondays

Piano

4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Private lessons
Instructor: Rasson

Piano

4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Private lessons
Instructor: Safaa

Ear Training II

6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Group lesson
Instructor: Rasson

Music Theory II

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Group lesson
Instructor: Rasson

Tuesdays

Cello

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Private lessons
Instructor: Rebecca

Piano

4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Private lessons
Instructor: Safaa

Piano

4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Private lessons
Instructor: Rasson

Violin

4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Private lessons
Instructor: Kjell

Violin

4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Private lessons
Instructor: Jacob

Wednesdays

Guitar I

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Group lesson
Instructor: Edmond

Piano

4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Private lessons
Instructor: Safaa

Piano

4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Private lessons
Instructor: Rasson

Woodwinds

4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Private lessons
Instructor: Athanasios

Thursdays

Intro to Music Theory & Ear Training

5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Group lesson
Instructor: Rasson

Orchestra

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Group lesson
Instructor: Rasson

Saturdays

Piano

11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Private lessons
Instructor: Rasson

All questions regarding the Nebu J. Issabey Music Program should be directed to our Program Manager Sabria Khosho at (773) 797-9600  or email: skhosho@auaf.us.

Remembering Maestro Nebu J. Issabey 

1930-2014

The late Nebu J. Issabey was born in Tabriz, Iran in 1930. He began violin lessons at age four, taught by his mother. In the next few years, he taught himself to play the piano. He later went on to study under the tutelage of the famous Italian violinist Luigi Pazanari, French violinist Tina Montofel, and later Joachim Blume and Carl Kaufhold while attending the Music Academy of Cologne, Germany.
In 1955, he founded the first Assyrian choir in Tehran, called the Nineveh Choir, which was later considered the leading choir in Iran. In 1966, the Iranian Fine Arts Institute was named the top-ranking choir in the country. Maestro Issabey and the Nineveh Choir performed for the Shah of Iran, where he was recognized.
After leading a notable career abroad as a musician, composer, and instructor, Maestro Issabey moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1973 and brought with him his dream to create an Assyrian national choir. He revived the Nineveh Choir, which later became known as the Assyrian National Choir. Also among his many contributions to the Assyrian community, Maestro Issabey composed “Roomrama” which he hoped would be recognized by Assyrians worldwide as the national anthem, unifying the Assyrian nation.
Maestro Issabey’s goal to share Assyrian culture through the international language of music was evident throughout his career. The music program at the AUAF is named in his honor and shares his mission of identifying and supporting Assyrian talents.