Rihab Azar

Aga Khan Music Award finalist (2025), Syrian oud player, composer and music facilitator, was born in Homs, Syria to a musical family. Her father, luthier Samir Azar made her the first oud she played at the age of 7 and was her first teacher.

She continued her studies at the Conservatoire of Damascus under the supervision of multiple oud masters and was the first woman oudist to solo-perform accompanied by the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music (2014).

In 2015, Rihab received a Chevening scholarship, which enabled her to study Music Education at Master’s level at IOE, UCL.

In 2016, Arts Council England Recognised Rihab as a musician of “exceptional promise” and throughout her work in the UK and abroad, Rihab has performed as a soloist as well as with different ensembles and orchestras such as the London Sinfonietta, Cantata Dramatica, The Third Orchestra, RNS & Theatre of Voices. She has collaborated on several interdisciplinary, creative, cross-genre projects and written music for radio, film & theatre.

Rihab also teaches music at several primary schools in South London and she was Wigmore Hall’s Trainee Music Leader for 2022-2023, working in different community settings. Her community workshop work has been in collaboration with several entities including Wigmore Hall, ASMF, Horniman Museum, Sinfonia Viva & Cheltenham Jazz Festival.

Her compositions have been very well-received and described as “unique and unconventional” in how they present the oud in an intimate, fresh, playful, curious way whilst still preserving the core sound characteristics that have come to give the oud its unique presence worldwide. Her debut album “Dandelion” will be released in March 2026.

Reviews:

‘Infinitely tender and haunting’ The Arts Desk
‘A beautiful balance between tradition and dreamy experimentation’ God is in The TV
‘A highlight’ The Guardian