Let Her Sing:
An Interview with Nazy Kaviani of Diaspora Arts Connection
On Saturday, October 24, 2026, art lovers across San Diego will have the chance to enjoy a truly special concert at the Escondido Center for the Arts. The performance is part of a broader concert series under the “Let Her Sing” project—an initiative created ten years ago by the Diaspora Arts Connection to amplify diverse voices and celebrate cultural storytelling through music.
This upcoming event will be enhanced by the collaboration of the Persian Cultural Center. It was also a wonderful opportunity for me to talk with my longtime friend, Nazy Kaviani, who shared insights and stories about the project and its continued impact over the years.
–Ali Sadr
Ali Sadr (AS): We have known each other for many years, but could you please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us about Diaspora Arts Connection.
Nazy Kaviani (NK): My name is Nazy Kaviani and I am the Executive Director and Founder of Diaspora Arts Connection. Diaspora Arts Connection is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting and promoting immigrant and diaspora artists while building a strong multi-cultural audience in the San Francisco Bay Area. We have taken more than 3,000 diaspora artists to stage and have produced hundreds of programs and events since our establishment in 2013.
AS: This is great. Why did you find it necessary to form this organization?
NK: I believe that the most important footprint of a diaspora community is its cultural and artistic representation in the host country. As successful and prosperous as the Iranian diaspora community is, it is only through cultural and artistic work that it can be properly and prominently introduced to others and to encourage a sense of belonging to the next generation of our diaspora. We know all artists need support, but immigrant artists particularly need help, because most of them lack infrastructural resources for taking to suitable stages where they are properly introduced and promoted. They often lack financial resources, social networks, and sometimes family support in their work. Our organization attempts to fill the void and help artists perform and present themselves.
AS: Why did you choose to make it a non-profit, and is it a membership-based organization?
NK: A sad fact about the work we do is that it hardly generates any profits to sustain our organization’s activities. We also routinely support artists who create alternative and non-mainstream music and art, which are less prone to financial success as compared to other Iranian music genres. It is only through private donations that we are able to produce events and we need to be a nonprofit in order to receive public support. Diaspora Arts Connection is not a membership-based organization.
AS: What are some of the major projects that Diaspora Arts Connection has created?
NK: We produce events such as music concerts, dance productions, plays, art exhibitions, book readings, film screenings, and poetry readings. Some are small events with less than 100 audience members. Some are larger productions with hundreds and, in a few cases, thousands of attendees. We have produced music events in large venues that have attracted as many as 1,200 people. We have also produced open air events, for example for Nowruz, that have brought more than 6,000 people to see the different attractions throughout the day. Diaspora Arts Connection has produced large events with dozens of artists on stage.
AS: Could you tell us about the “Let Her Sing” project?
NK: Let Her Sing® is our flagship event and the most important project we produce each year. In its tenth year of production, the event is a celebration of female voices, voices that are banned, censored, and suppressed in several countries in the world. The participating vocalists have come from many different countries, with a big focus on Iranian female vocalists. Between six to ten women take to stage each year with a large house band to create awareness and to sing in solidarity with the voices of women. Aside from the right to self-expression for any woman who wishes to sing, worldwide, women are the keepers of the heritage of humanity that is music. The very first time a baby hears music is through the voice of his or her mother who sings lullabies to babies. Such a heritage of humanity does not belong to any state or ruler to be limited or banned. But unfortunately, many countries limit or ban the rights of women to musical self-expression. While in countries such as Iran women are not allowed to sing solo, in countries such as Afghanistan, no women or men are allowed to sing at all, as music is banned under the Taliban. In some other countries women may be allowed to sing by law, but are deprived of the right to sing under family pressure. Let Her Sing® celebrates the female voice and the precious right of women to artistic self-expression.
AS: This year marks the tenth anniversary. What are the plans for this year’s event?
NK: For our tenth anniversary, we are happy to present six singers from diverse backgrounds from Iran. The lineup features the Arab-Iranian singer Mina Deris, the Assyrian Iranian singer Eilbret Dooman, singer songwriter Marjan Farsad, Kamancheh player and vocalist Mehrnam Rastegari, traditional Persian vocalist Roxana Sarrafi, and singer-songwriter Gelareh Sheibani. Our stellar vocalists will perform with our skilled house band under the musical direction of Yahya Alkhansa.
AS: For the first time, you are bringing this beautiful event to San Diego in collaboration with PCC. What can you share with our readers about this upcoming concert?
NK: We are delighted to be presenting Let Her Sing® on Saturday, October 24, in collaboration with the Persian Cultural Center of San Diego. For more than a decade, we have worked with PCC from afar and this year we are happy to be bringing Let Her Sing® to the Escondido Center for the Arts together. We really look forward to seeing the San Diego Iranian community and to bringing a dazzling performance to PCC’s members.
AS: Thank you so much for what you are doing; we wish you and your organization success. Thanks for your time. I am looking forward to this concert on October 24.
Diaspora Arts Connection’s website: www.diasporaartsconnection.org
