The Department of Music celebrates World Music Week March 29 through April 1 with a variety of vibrant performances by our West African, Indian and Middle Eastern and North African music ensembles. World Music Week culminates with the World Music Sampler on Sunday, April 1 at 3pm in Winspear Centre for the Arts.
We are proud to welcome virtuoso oud musician and composer Rahim Alhaj to perform with our ensembles during the World Music Sampler. He will perform a combination of solo and collaborative works. Rahim has performed around the world and is considered one of the finest oud players in the world. He has won many accolades and awards including two Grammy nominations.
Rahim was raised in Baghdad, began studying the oud when he was nine years old, and gaving solo concerts from age fourteen. He attended the Baghdad Conservatory of Fine Arts, studying under Munir Bashir and Salim Abdul Kareem, whence he graduated from the six-year program with honors in 1990. He left Iraq the next year under pressure from Saddam Husseun's government. Rahim lived in Jordan, then later in Syria until 2000, when he was granted refugee status and emigrated to the U.S., where he resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
An improviser and composer, he has performed in hundreds of solo concerts throughout the Near East, in Paris, and across North America. As received from his teachers,Rahim Alhaj carries the Iraqi musical tradition, yet he has moved it along toward the next generations in his own way, in his own time.
His recordings include the Grammy nominated "When The Soul is Settled: Music of Iraq" (2004, Smithsonian Folkways), also "Home Again" (2007, Fast Horse) "Ancient Sounds", with Amjad Ali Khan (2009, Thirty Tigers) and "Little Earth" (2010, Ur Music).
"One of the top oud players in the world" - San Francisco Chronicle
"Unique combination of traditional and innovative performance techniques. Alhaj's spontaneous inventions are constantly fascinating." - Los Angeles Times
Please join us for an exciting performance opportunity
World Music Sampler
Sunday, April 1 at 3pm
Featuring the Indian, West African and Middle Eastern & Northern African Music ensembles
With special guest artist Rahim Alhaj
$20 Adults | $15 Seniors | $10 Students | $60 Season Flex Pass
Tickets available in advance through the Department of Music
(3-82 Fine Arts Building, University of Alberta | 780.492.0601 | music@ualberta.
or at the door on the day of the event.