Many Roads, One Journey: Music, Poetry and Belonging in an Iranian Church Community - Music Event

This weekend of events at Emmanuel Church in Manchester grows out of research by the University of Liverpool with the church’s Farsi-speaking community. The research looks at experiences of faith and belonging, and at the different ways in which Farsi and English are used in church and community life. For the Festival, we are opening up some of these questions to the wider community through two participatory events.

On Saturday 17 October, 2.30–4.30 pm, the focus will be on Iranian music and culture. Two musicians from the Sahba Academy will perform traditional Iranian music on string and percussion instruments. The live performance will be followed by informal conversation and an opportunity to meet members of the church’s Iranian community.

Iranian refreshments will be provided.

Both events are led by Dr Caterina Guardamagna, Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics at the University of Liverpool, and Mrs Christina Balaska, in collaboration with St James & Emmanuel Church, Didsbury. The Saturday event is delivered in partnership with theaward-winning Sahba Academy Music school and Cultural centre, Manchester.

The events bring together members of Emmanuel’s Iranian congregation, the wider church community and anyone interested in joining the conversation. No previous knowledge of the research, Iranian music or poetry is needed.

Anyone interested in music, poetry, culture, or religion.

Also a music event on Sunday 18th October.