2025 – 26 Series
A curated series of masterclasses spanning the full breadth of Middle Eastern and world percussion.
Zohar Fresco
One of the most celebrated frame drum and riqq virtuosos in the world, Zohar Fresco is known for his extraordinary technique and deep spiritual connection to the instrument. He has performed and recorded with some of the most renowned artists in world music.
Zohar is also Yshai's own teacher — his influence on Yshai's approach to technique, phrasing, and musical depth is profound. Having Zohar open the 2025–26 series was a deeply personal and meaningful moment for Yshai and his students.
Aliex Tobias
A leading voice in Iberian percussion, Aliex Tobias brings the rich tradition of Spanish hand drumming — pandeiro, adufe, and the broader Mediterranean percussive heritage — to his teaching with extraordinary depth and energy.
His January 2026 masterclass gave Yshai's students a rare window into the living traditions of Iberian percussion and their deep rhythmic vocabulary.
Glen Velez
A true legend of the frame drum world, Glen Velez is widely credited with bringing the frame drum into modern Western consciousness. His pioneering work across Middle Eastern, Indian, and world music traditions has influenced generations of percussionists globally.
Having Glen Velez as part of the 2025–26 series was a landmark moment — a direct connection to one of the instrument's great innovators.
Oumar Ngom
A master of West African percussion traditions, Oumar Ngom brings the rhythmic richness of Senegalese music — sabar, djembé, and the deep polyrhythmic complexity of the Wolof tradition — to students across the world.
His masterclass offered Yshai's students an inspiring cross-cultural perspective on rhythm, independence, and the relationship between body, instrument, and community in music.
Pedram Khavarzamini
One of the most virtuosic tombak players of his generation, Pedram Khavarzamini has redefined what is possible on the Iranian goblet drum. His technique is breathtaking — combining lightning speed, musical sensitivity, and compositional intelligence.
Pedram's April 2026 masterclass is a rare opportunity to learn directly from one of the great masters of Persian percussion. Tickets are still available.
Register for April 13 masterclass
Giridhar Udupa
A virtuoso of the ghatam — the Hindustani clay pot percussion instrument — and a master of konnakol, the Carnatic art of vocal percussion, Giridhar Udupa is one of the most celebrated Hindustani percussionists of his generation.
His May 2026 masterclass promises to open Yshai's students to an entirely different rhythmic universe: the mathematical sophistication and spiritual depth of the Carnatic tradition.
Andrea Piccioni
A leading figure in the European world music scene, Andrea Piccioni is a masterful tamburello and frame drum player whose work bridges the Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Western musical traditions with remarkable fluency.
His deep exploration of rhythm, timbre, and the expressive range of the Italian tamburello has made him one of the instrument's most inspiring voices worldwide.
Amit Kavthekar
One of India's foremost tabla virtuosos, Amit Kavthekar brings the extraordinary depth and complexity of Hindustani classical percussion to his teaching. The tabla's interplay of melody, tone, and intricate rhythmic cycles makes it one of the world's most sophisticated percussion instruments.
His July 2026 masterclass will close out a remarkable first year of the series with a journey into the heart of the North Indian classical tradition.