The Naghash Ensemble combines the earthy spirituality of Armenian folk song, new classical music, contemporary post-minimalism, and the energy of jazz and rock. Three brilliant female vocalists and some of Armenia’s finest instrumentalists on duduk, oud, dhol, and piano play new music based on sacred texts by the medieval Armenian mystic poet and priest, Mkrtich Naghash.
Written by Armenian-American composer John Hodian, The Naghash Ensemble’s “Songs of Exile” is a profound meditation on man's relationship to God from the perspective of a monk forced to live in exile for many years. Part folk music, part classical, and profoundly moving.
Upcoming Concerts
In March 2025, The Naghash Ensemble returns to North America.
Mar 14, 2025
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT, USA
Mar 15, 2025
Berklee Performing Arts Center
Boston, MA, USA
Mar 16, 2025
Longwood Gardens
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Mar 19, 2025
The Local
Saugerties, NY, USA
Mar 21, 2025
Strathmore Theater
North Bethesda, MD, USA
Mar 25, 2025
SF Jazz
San Francisco, CA, USA
Mar 27, 2025
Green Music Center
Sonoma, CA, USA
Mar 29, 2025
Aga Khan Museum
Toronto, Canada
Apr 02, 2025
Heidelberger Frühling
Heidelberg, Germany
“The spiritual beauty of the music provokes a mix of joy and ecstasy”
— J-P Brossard, Les Trans Musicales
CDs, Books & Downloads
Who We Are
The Naghash Ensemble
Armenians have a profound sense of history. With a culture that dates back to Urartian times (900 B.C.) and a musical legacy that includes such powerful figures as Mesrop Mashtots, Sayat Nova, and Komitas, there is a lot to be proud of.
With its eye on the 21st century, The Naghash Ensemble continues this lineage of tradition and innovation by combining ancient Armenian culture with elements of new classical music, medieval polyphonic vocal music, jazz, folk, and rock.
