Kismet performs classical, folk and devotional music of the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Mediterranean lands. The name Kismet is translated in Turkish as destiny and luck, and is referred to in a positive sense. It is likened to a river flowing back towards the ocean - a realization of our way towards the source of creation.

In July of 2000, multi-instrumentalist, Gari Hegedus and singer/
percussionist Sonja Drakulich met violinist/yayli tanbur player, Beth Bahia Cohen. Soon they found themselves playing music together almost non-stop for several days. This led to a series of intense music sessions whenever Beth would travel to the Bay Area from her home in Boston, Mass. It was the love of Middle Eastern and Eastern European music that brought them together, and from that, a great bond of friendship and realization of their kindred spirits was manifested. Over the past year, the trio has been compiling an exciting repertoire of classical, devotional and folk music of Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Greece, Bulgaria and Macedonia.

The trio performs this music on the rare and traditional instruments of these regions, and the compositions and improvisations are infused with the ensemble's own sense of beauty and inspiration. Kismet was formed to celebrate and to help keep alive the soulful and stirring essence that the music of these cultures contain.

The trio feels their meeting to certainly be Kismet, and with their
inspiration they are planning tours in intimate settings, and will be
recording a full CD Spring 2002.

Gari Hegedus
Oud, Violin, Mandocello

Beth Bahia Cohen
Yayli Tanbur, Violin, Lyra

Sonja Drakulich
Vocals, Frame Drum, Riqq