The Flathead Valley Community College Multicultural Affairs Office is welcoming members of the Crown of the Continent Choir along with Khaled Zaki, an Islamic chant specialist, and Irfan Khan, an Islamic scholar, to present a poetry reading for the community on April 29.
During the event, the poetry of Rumi and Hafiz, two popular Persian poets from the 13th and 14th centuries, will be read by members of the Crown of the Continent Choir. Additionally, a call to prayer will be given by Zaki and explained by Khan. Audience members will have a chance to ask questions after the program.
Born in New York to Egyptian parents, Zaki was raised in Seattle. He is a graduate of the University of Washington where he studied public health and Near Eastern languages and civilizations. Zaki serves as the Muezzin (prayer leader) at Masjid Umar al-Farooq in Mountlake Terrace, Wash. He is a certified expert in Quranic Arabic pronunciation and recitation.
Khan’s family originates from Hyderabad, India. He moved to Seattle with his family in 1976 and is part of one of the largest extended Muslim families living in the Northwest. Khan is a graduate of Washington State University and works as a financial planner specializing in retirement planning. He has been active with the interfaith community, participating in many dialogues and presentations involving churches and synagogues.
The event is free and open to the public and will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the large community meeting room inside the Arts and Technology Building on the FVCC campus. For more information, contact FVCC Multicultural Affairs Coordinator Mick Stemborski at 756-3945 or at [email protected]