Don Baragiano is founder, composer & bandleader for the Middle Eastern music project “Hejira”. He combines ancient Middle Eastern scales & rhythms with American rock, jazz and classical music.

Don studied music theory in high school and attended the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music. In the 1970/80s, he was an Audio Engineer at Northern Ky University & at the Ministry of Finance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Don's long-time love of world music was solidified when he was invited to a private audience/master class with HRM King Faud's master musician, Hamzah Mohammed Al-Bashir.

In 2012 & 2013, Don was selected to compete in the Aaron Copland Foundation's "American Composer" series.

Hejira evolved from Seattle's premier original world music band into a sophisticated, nationwide, educational/entertaining stage show. They blend; world music & ethnic dance. They share their collective global experiences with insight and humor as they impart their simple universal message, "We are all One".

Hejira has performed & toured in the following areas:
Arizona (Sedona, Bisbee, Phoenix & Tucson) for the"Musicians That Need to be Heard" network
NYC (Astoria, Harlem, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island) - Making Music in NY & the NYC Multicultural Festival
Midwest (Cincinnati, Bloomington, Columbus, Newport,
Seattle (member of the 4 Culture Artist Roster, ArabFest at the Seattle Center, NW FolkLife.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Musicians make no $$$...we need the help of other artistic people who can understand that need.

Interests

Don composes original music mixing Middle Eastern scales & rhythms w/rock, jazz & classical styles.

• music
• classical music
• ethnic music
• world beats

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

1984 - 1986 - Lived/worked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as an Audio Engineer for the US Govt at the Ministry of Finance.

What I Can Share with Hosts

We do World Music Workshops at various World Music Festivals.

FREE HOUSE CONCERT for all hosts!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, England, Germany, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia

Countries I’ve Lived In

Saudi Arabia