Museum Admission

Presents:

NOWRUZ: LIGHT ALWAYS PREVAILS

Join us to reflect on this ancient tradition and its lasting cultural significance.

San Francisco, California

For more than three millennia, communities have marked the arrival of spring with Nowruz (‘New Day’ in Persian), a festival of new beginnings. The observance of Nowruz offers space to acknowledge a tradition that has endured for thousands of years and continues to hold meaning for millions. Originating in Iran and commencing at the moment of the vernal equinox, Nowruz honors the renewal of the natural world and the balance between light and darkness. Today, over 300 million people across a wide geographic region observe Nowruz, sharing in a cultural heritage that has been passed down through generations.

SCHEDULE

SPRING, HOPE AND LIGHT
Live Performance
2–3 PM | Samsung Hall

Santoor master Ehsan Matoori and percussionist Greg Ellis accompanied by dancer Miriam Peretz.

Haft Sîn Display by Floral & Decor
All-day | Bogart Court

Farhang Short Film Festival Screening
11 AM–1 PM | Samsung Hall

Persian Calligraphy Demonstration by Arash Shirinbab
11 AM–12:30 PM | Koret Education Center

About Ehsan Matoori
Ehsan Matoori is an Iranian santour player, composer, and music producer. Born in 1979, he began studying the santour at age nine using Maestro Faramarz Payvar’s method and later trained in the Iranian radif with Parviz Meshkatian and Pashang Kamkar, also studying with Ardavan Kamkar. Since moving to the United States in 2013, Matoori has collaborated with renowned international musicians and performed widely. His 2019 album Phantasm, created with Mohsen Namjoo, has streamed millions of times. His work blends global musical traditions, aiming to connect cultures through sound. 

About Greg Ellis
Greg Ellis is an American drummer, percussionist, and composer known for his work across world music, film scores, and cross-cultural collaborations. His percussion work can be heard in major film scores including The Matrix, 300, Iron Man, and Argo. Ellis has collaborated with renowned artists such as Zakir Hussain, Mickey Hart, Airto Moreira, and Billy Idol. Drawing from rhythmic traditions of the Middle East, India, Africa, and beyond, he is recognized for his expressive approach to global percussion and rhythm-based composition.

About Miriam Peretz
Miriam Peretz is an internationally recognized dancer, choreographer, and movement educator specializing in traditional and ethno-contemporary dance from the Silk Road, Central Asia, and the Middle East. She was a principal dancer, choreographer, and lead instructor with Ballet Afsaneh for over a decade and has performed as a featured soloist in festivals across the United States and Europe, including the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. Her work blends ritual, spirituality, and cross-cultural traditions, creating immersive performances that bridge music, movement, and sacred expression.