Oud

I discovered the oud in Palestine, where between between 2006 and 2009 I was doing research. After buying an instrument in 2010, I started learning rather informally and very sporadically, but I was privileged to have lessons with musicians in a range of oud traditions from Egyptian and Iraqi to Turkish and more broadly Ottoman. I worked with Khyam Allami, Charbel Rohana, Necati Celik and Yurdal Tokcan in particular, but also in seminars with Evgenios Voulgaris and Harris Lambrakis. I accompanied my studies of the instrument with historical research and study of makam, which led me back into composing, thanks also to inspiring studies with Ross Daly.

I have been happy to develop several performance projects since then, playing concerts but also contributing to a range of educational and fund-raising events, as well as some literary evenings and other cultural happenings.