The WCR Center for the Arts will host Grammy-nominated musician Simon Shaheen as he performs with his trio on Saturday, April 22, at 8 p.m. at the WCR, 140 N. Fifth St., Reading. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m., and parking is available at the Abraham Lincoln parking garage located on the corner of Fifth and Washington streets in downtown Reading.

A Palestinian born in the village of Tarshiha in the Galilee, Shaheen had a childhood steeped in music. His father, Hikmat Shaheen, was a professor of music and a master oud player. Shaheen's father began teaching him to play the oud when Shaheen was 5, and a year later, the boy commenced studying violin at the Conservatory for Western Classical Music in Jerusalem. Shaheen continued his music education in the United States, receiving master's degrees from the Manhattan School of Music and Columbia University. In 1994, Shaheen received a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, the highest honor for traditional arts in the U.S. In addition to his work in traditional and classical Arabic music, Shaheen has participated in many cross-cultural collaborations, including performances with Sting, Quincy Jones, Bill Laswell, and The Klezmatics. He is also a professor at Berklee College of Music. His performances feature music ranging from traditional Arab sounds to jazz and Western classical styles.

Tickets may be purchased at http://www.wcrcenter.org or at the door. There is a discount for students. This event is made possible by Najla and Nabil Muallem and the Reading Musical Foundation.