Kinan Azmeh, Clarinetist, Composer

Described as a “virtuosic, unique sound” by the Daily Star and “Engagingly flamboyant” by the L.A Times, Kinan Azmeh is gaining the reputation of being on of Syria’s new rising stars.

Born in Damascus, Syria 1976, Kinan is the first Arab to win the first prize at the Nicolay Rubinstein international competition in Moscow, Russia, 1997, a graduate of the Juilliard school in New York and the High institute of music and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Damascus, Syria, He is currently working towards his doctoral degree at the city university of New York studying with Charles Neidich. Kinan has appeared as soloist and composer worldwide, such appearances include Opera Bastille in Paris,
Tschikovsky grand hall in Moscow, Carnegie and Alice Tully halls in New York, Royal Albert hall in London, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Berlin Philharmonie Hall, The Kennedy Center in Washington DC and the
Damascus Opera house for its opening concert. He has played under reputed conductors such as Solhi al-Wadi, Roger Norrington and Daniel Barenboim, and shared the stage with artists such as Mari Kimura, Marcel Khalife, Elliott Sharp, Katia Tchemberdji, Kani Karaca and Kevork Mourad. Compositions include several works for film, live visual arts, Solo, Orchestra, chamber music and electronics and his recordings include two albums with
his ensemble HEWAR, and several sound tracks for film and dance. Kinan is the artistic director of the DamascusFestival Chamber Music Ensemble. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.