Orchestra

Orchestra Members Biographies

Bassam Bishara

Musical Director

Bassam Bishara was born in the village of Rama in Upper Galilee, Israel in 1954. He started his music education at the Robin Conservatory in Haifa, and graduated from the music department of the Hebrew University. Bassam taught Middle Eastern music at the Music Academy in Jerusalem, and has performed internationally as a soloist, blending tradition and innovation, and forging important musical links between the Middle East and the West, from traditional Arab compositions and arrangements to jazz, documentary films, and orchestral scores. Bassam has received several awards: the "Award of Honour" for his achievements in linking traditional Arabic music and the music of the West; the "Jerusalem Encouragement Award" for his contribution to the revival of cultural heritage; the "Israeli Radio Broadcast Award"; and the "Arab Women Association Award" (London, England) for his role in reconstructing classical and traditional Arabic repertoires. He has performed in England, Germany, Sweden, and at several universities in the United States. Bassam moved to Canada in 2001. He teaches Middle Eastern music at York University and is the music director and composer for Arabesque Dance Company & Orchestra.

Suleiman Warwar

Percussion Director

Suleiman Warwar was born in Nazareth, Palestine in 1977. He began playing Arabic Tablah or Dumbek at age 6. The self-taught musician was the lead Dumbek player in his high school orchestra in Nazareth and performed traditional and modern musical pieces around the country. Suleiman immigrated to Canada in 1995 where he was introduced to Latin American, African, Turkish and many other types of music. As well as traditional Arabic percussion including Dumbek, Duff, Katim and Riqq, Suleiman also plays Bongos, Congas and Djembe. His innovative style of drumming has led him to play with such artists as Bassam Bishara, George Wasouf and in various peace movement events. Suleiman is a sought after master dumbek artist who is invited around the world to teach. He is the lead dumbek player for the Arabesque Dance Company Orchestra and has composed many popular drum solos available on his CD entitled "Beyond Rhthym" and the Arabesque Dance Company CDs entitled "Nawaem", Asala 1 Live, Asala 2 Live, OUM and NOOR.

Walid Najjar

Keyboard

Walid Najjar began his musical path 18 years ago in elementary school, when he first picked up the drums to perform for a local television show with his classmates and school. From there, his musical interests quickly grew to include a wide variety of percussion instruments, as well as singing and voice work to accompany his playing. Born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1978, and living in the United Arab Emirates until the age of 17, Walid moved on to the guitar and keyboards after immigrating to Canada 11 years ago. From a self-taught keyboardist, to a first time keyboard-playing performer in 1997, to now the leader of his own professional band, Walid can be seen, and heard, performing with Arabesque Dance Company, and at weddings and parties across North America. His musical ambitions, and eagerness to learn more about the musical arts, have currently led him to re-enter music school with the famed Professor, Bassam Bishara, to study the violin.

Eddy Suleiman

Violin

Born in 1985 in Baghdad, Eddy was drawn to music from an early age. He started to play the keyboard before settling on his instrument on choice, the violin, in 1995. He studied the violin at the Edward Sa'ed National Conservatory of Music in Ramallah city and played both Western and Arabic classical music with numerous groups including Maqamat, Edward Sa'ed and Daniel Barenboim Orchestra, Sanabel and Yallalan, performing in Ramallah, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. He attended many workshops, musical summer camps including workshops with renowned musician Simon Shaheen in Talita Qumi. In 2005 he instructed at the Kufiyeh Music School in Birzeit, teaching violin skills and techniques. Eddy joined the Arabesque Dance Company Orchestra in 2006.

Mohanned Maotassem

Qatim

Born in 1985, in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Mohannad has always loved music since he was a kid. He was the lead percussionist for his schools band and participated at every event. Mohannad also plays the keyboard, the Qatime andseveral other percussion instruments. He is also a Middle Eastern DJ working for the leading DJ Company in the industry in Toronto. His love for music allowed him to create the first Arabic online radio station. This gave him the opportunity to work with several artists and musicians during their tours in Canada, including: Assi il Hilani, Melhim Zein, Fares Karam and Carole Smaha. Mohannad has always desired to be a musician and to work with other talented musicians from around the world.

Milad Daher

Lead Percussionist

Milad Daher was born in 1987 in Bierut, Lebanon. Milads father was a musician who played with well-known performers such as Nadia Jamal, Fairuz, Geroge Wassouf, and Sabah. Watching his father and travelling with him to performances gave Milad the confidence and motivation to pursue a career in music. He started playing the tablah (dumbek) at the age of 5. At the age of ten he played with Samira Toufik, Diana Haddad, and Ala Zalzali. Milad began to play music professionally at the age of 13. He plays many Arabic instruments including the dumbek, katim, daff, and daholla. In 1999 Milad immigrated to Canada where he expanded his repertoire to include a variety of world musical styles.

Mohammed El Srouji

Qatim

Mohammed Srouji was born September 17th, 1984 in Beirut, Lebanon. His passion and desire to learn Arabic music startedat a young age, and he found out quite quickly his favorite part of the music was the percussion. Growing up Mohammed wanted to learn Arabic music on a professional level and after immigrating to Canada he was able to fulfill this lifelong dream. He took classes with leaders in the field and this gave him the courage to perform in front of audiences. Some of Mohammed’s achievements including drumming festivals, television appearances and taking part in tours of some of the biggest names from the Middle Eastern entertainment world such as Melhem Zein, Rabee Al-Asmar, Abdo Yagee, and Carole Smaha. Mohammed has and will continue to have the passion and desire to learn, perform and share Middle Eastern music with audiences.

Khaled Maotassem

Vocals

Khaled Maotassem first performed on stage at the age of 10. At an early age he had the opportunity to sing with famous Middle Eastern singers including, Kazem Al Saher and Ragheb Alama. With the support of his family and friends, Khaled flourished his passion in singing. During his elementary and secondary school years, he became the main vocalist of the school band. He travelled to many parts of the Middle East including Lebanon and Egypt in order to learn and perfect the techniques of Arabic singing (Tarab). He worked with Middle Eastern bands in Canada and the United States and learned from great musicians and mentors. His desire to perform on stage, along with professional dance groups, allowed him to seek the famed Arabesque Dance Company.

Nancy Jibbe

Vocals

Nancy Jibbe was born on September 16, 1986 in Beirut, Lebanon. She began her musical journey from the age of 12 singing in choirs, until she became a lead singer in a blues band in her hometown. In 2006, Nancy moved to Canada to pursue her education during which she joined the World Music Ensemble at the University of Calgary and was featured as one of their key singers. She explored her singing talents and found herself not only singing in English but in Arabic, Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish, and French as well. Recently, Nancy has joined Arabesque and has found it to be: “a marvelous opportunity. I’m amazed by the talent in this group and how inspirational the harmony of their music and dance is.”

Pedro Bonatto

Daholla

Pedro Bonatto was born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 1979. He first studied piano but quickly decided his main interest was in world music. He was first introduced to Arabic music by Brazil-based Lebanese singer Shaker Akiki and fell in love with its complex and deeply human rhythms and melodies. Pedro moved to Toronto in 2009 and has been learning dumbek with Suleiman Warwar since 2010. He sees his passion for percussion as a life-long project in self-exploration and bringing cultures together.

James Freeman

Riqq, Trumpet

Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, James Freeman received his first drum set for his third birthday. At the age of 7 he began to study trumpet and played both trumpet and drums in concert, jazz and marching bands. James continued his musical studies at Montreal’s McGill University, completing both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music. Since discovering a passion for Arabic music, he has studied with Dr Ali Jihad Racy, Simon Shaheen, Bassam Bishara, Suleiman Warwar and legendary Fairuz percussionist Michel Merhej. On the trumpet James has performed with ensembles such as the Toronto Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic, Opera Ontario, I Musici de Montreal, Washington Bach Consort, Tapestry New Opera, and performed on the Ontario leg of Diana Krall’s Quiet Nights tour. He has been a featured soloist with the National Academy Orchestra and the Scarborough Philharmonic. In addition to performing Arabic music with the Arabesque Orchestra he has recently performed with the New York Arabic Orchestra featuring Marcel Khalife. James is currently on faculty at the Kingsway Conservatory of Music teaching trumpet, drum set and hand percussion.

Salah Allaham

Reeds/Dumbek

Salah Allaham was born in Edmonton, Alberta on July 5th, 1980. At the age of two he moved to Lebanon only to get caught in the middle of the civil war. Growing up during the war, he spent most of his time listening to the classics as it was usually unsafe to play outside. He grew a strong interest in the procussion instruments and would constantly drum against anything within his reach. In 1998, he returned to Canada and settled in Toronto. As a young bachelor he decided to seriously entertain his passion for music and bought a dumbek. Essentially he is self taught, however in 2007-2008 he did take classes at Arabesque which allowed him to perfect his skills.
Salah's great leadership skills and excellent work ethic was noticed by the creator of the Stars on Board Cruise who appointed him the Director of Operations on the October cruise where he was in charge of the evening shows for the great artists Milhim Zein, Wael Kfoury, Carol Smaha, Alyssa and many more.Salah's other interests include fitness and health, cooking, traveling and spending time with his family.

George Barbas

Percussionist

George plays dohola, dumbek and bongos with Arabesque. Having studied percussion styles from various cultures, Middle Eastern and Greek percussion is where he spends the vast majority of his practice and playing time. In addition to his role with Arabesque, George is lead percussionist with the Canadian composer and award winning multi-instrumentalist, Yiannis Kapoulas. Having often been asked how an individual with Greek origins has become adept in Middle Eastern music, his response is: "Middle Eastern and Greek music share many similarities. With the dumbek in particular, Arabic culture invented and mastered the instrument. The crossover to Greek music is seamless."

Sebastian Gatto

Percussionist

Sebastian has been performing with the Arabesque Dance Company since July 1999. He has dabbled with various styles of percussion and a trip to Morocco and Tunisia exposed him to the propulsive rhythms of the Arab world, which eventually led him to Dr George Sawa. After several dumbek classes, Sebastian was asked to join the Arabesque Orchestra and has since then received more training with Amer Matri and Suleiman Warwar, performing at various Arabic functions as well as participating in workshops led by Yasmina Ramzy. Sebastian appears regularly with fellow Arabesque Drummers, Suleiman Warwar and George Barbas every Sunday night at Layali Arabesque.

Ernie Tollar

Reeds/Flutes

Performing from Cairo to Kapuskasing, Ernie looks for connections in world cultures. Jazz collaborators include Dave Restivo, Shelly Berger, Holly Cole, NOJO, Kenny Wheeler, Joe Lovano, Don Thompson, David Piltch, Yvette Tollar, Hugh Marsh and Don Byron. World music credits include performances with Trichy's Trio, Greek/Arabic ensembles Maza Mez and Doula, Indo-Jazz group Tasa, Altin Yildiz Gypsy Orkestar, Maryem Tollar, Rick Shadrach Lazar and Spare Parts. Ernie has studied South Indian classical music with mrdangam virtuoso Trichy Sankaran and N. Ramani Flute, Arabic music with Dr. George Sawa, Alfred Gamil, Ibrahim Kawala.

Kathleen Kajioka

Violin

Born in Toronto, Kathleen Kajioka began her musical career as a modern violist, pursuing studies as a scholarship student at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. Upon her return to Toronto, she began to widen her field to encompass both Early and Middle Eastern music. The recipient of several arts council grants, her studies of Baroque, Medieval and Middle Eastern music have taken her to the US, France and Egypt. She has achieved a reputation as a musical multilinguist, moving between worlds with agility and uncompromising depth, and appears regularly as a baroque violinist and violist with world renowned Tafelmusik, as a modern violist with the critically acclaimed Via Salzburg Chamber Orchestra, and as an Arabic violinist with Maryem Tollar, and the Middle Eastern ensembles Doula and Maza Mez. Always open for a swing through the pop world, Kathleen has recorded for the likes of Jesse Cook, Dolores ORiordan, and K-os.

Dr. George Sawa

Founder

George Sawa was born in Alexandria , Egypt in 1947. He studied Classical Arabic music at the Higher Institute of Arabic Music specializing in qanoon, voice and theory. After immigrating to Canada in 1970, he studied ethno-musicology and obtained his doctorate in Historical Arabic Musicology at the University of Toronto. He has taught medieval, modern and religious Middle Eastern Music at York University and the University of Toronto, and is the author of "Music Performance in Early Abbasid Era 750-932AD" published in 1989. George Sawa has given numerous concerts and lecture demonstrations at universities, museums and art galleries in Europe and North America He has been teaching at Arabesque Academy, School of Middle Eastern Dance and Music Arts since 1995 and regularly teaches alongside Yasmina Ramzy in many dance workshops. He was awarded the 1990 Ontario Folk Arts Recognition Fellowship for his performances and lecture demonstrations on the qanoon. George served as a performer, composer and music coach in R. Murray Schafer's RA in Toronto (1983) and Holland (1985). As well as serving as the Musical Director for the Egyptian exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum, George has arranged music for and directed the musicians of the Arabesque Dance Company Orchestra since 1996 where he also plays the qanoon and naye in all of their performances.

Najwa Tannus

Lead Vocalist

Najwa Tannus was born into a musical family in Jish, Palestine. After immigrating to Canada in 1989 with her family, she began her musical studies on piano at the Royal Conservatory of Music. A year later, she began a new musical career in Arabic singing at the age of 13. Najwa spent her teenage years between the Royal Conservatory and home studies, which she received from her father, Marun Tannus, who taught her Arabic vocal techniques and solfege (Maqamatt Arabia). She also mastered the method of Mawaweel that is known in Arabic as vocal improvisation. Najwa has been involved with such festivals as the Ontario place Multi-cultural Music Festival and the Canadian Multi-cultural Press Conference, promoting Arabic music. She has performed with renowned Arabic musical artists throughout the Middle East and North America.