Joseph Tawadros AM performs at Australia House

With the full, and generous support of the Australian High Commissioner we were given permission to film several concerts in July 2020 in the beautiful surroundings of the Exhibition Hall of the Australian High Commission, London. The opening concert featured internationally acclaimed Oud virtuoso, Joseph Tawadros AM. Joseph was recently announced as the 2020 winner of the 2020 ARIA Awards World Music category. This is his 5th win of this prize. Attached is a recording of Joseph playing his composition, ‘Dreaming Hermit’.

Hosted, and with the full support of the High Commissioner, His Excellency the Honourable George Brandis QC, the ‘High Commissioner – outstanding Australians & New Zealanders in Performance Series’ of online concerts was a major step forward for our Tait Tuesdays at Home series. The series Musical Director was Australian international conductor, Jessica Cottis in concerts featuring outstanding performing artists from Australia & New Zealand from Opera, Musical Theatre and the Concert platform.

The four concerts were:

Joseph Tawadros AM – The Art of the Oud

Stars of Covent Garden in Recital – Lauren Fagan, Kiandra Howarth, Filipe Manu & Samuel Sakker accompanied by Sergey Rybin.

Leslie Howard & FriendsQuintets – Morgan Goff, Leslie Howard, Naoko Keatley, Bridget O’Donnell, and Tim Walden

Golden Age of Musical Theatre – Embla Bishop, Corinne Cowling, Morgan Cowling, Jeremy Kleeman, Josie Lane, Brenton Spiteri, Chad Vindin

The-Art-of-the-Oud_Notes_280720

“One of the most impressive musicians to emerge in Australia … with a dazzling technique dispensing hair-raising tempos… His writing displays a real depth of emotion …revelling in a zest for life and celebration.”

THE AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER

Photos by Hannan Images

Joseph Tawadros, oud

At 35, Joseph Tawadros is established as one of the world’s leading oud performers and composers. A virtuoso of diversity and sensitivity, Joseph performs in concert halls worldwide and is known for his brilliant technique, deep musicianship and joyous style of performance. His drive to push musical boundaries has led to many collaborations with significant performers and a solid repertoire of innovative, original music. He has recorded 14 albums – Storyteller, Rouhani, Visions, Epiphany, Angel, The Prophet: Music Inspired by the Poetry of Kahlil Gibran, The Hour of Separation, Band of Brothers, Concerto of the Greater Sea, Chameleons of the White Shadow, Permission to Evaporate, Truth Seekers, Lovers and Warriors, World Music, Live At Abbey Road and The Bluebird, the Mystic and the Fool. Joseph has received 12 nominations and achieved five ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Awards – in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2020 for Best World Music Album – and as a contributor to the Ali’s Wedding soundtrack album in 2017. Joseph’s 2018 album is The Bluebird, The Mystic and The Fool. He recently released his album with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Northey. Born in Cairo, and a resident of Sydney since he was 3 years old, Joseph was nominated for Young Australian of the Year in 2014, received the NSW Premier’s medal for Arts and Culture in the same year and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (AM) for his services to music and composition in 2016. Joseph is acknowledged for expanding the oud’s notoriety in mainstream western culture and has also been recognised in the Arab world, appearing on the judging panel of the Damascus International Oud competition in 2009, and taking part in Istanbul’s first Oud festival in 2010. He has toured extensively, headlining in Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East, and has collaborated with celebrated artists such as Zakir Hussain, Sultan Khan, Béla Fleck, John Abercrombie, John Patitucci, Jack DeJohnette, Richard Bona, Roy Ayers, Joey DeFrancesco, Howard Johnson, Jean Louis Matinier, Ivry Gitlis, Camerata Salzburg, Christian Lindberg, Neil Finn, The Grigoryan Brothers, Kate Miller-Heidke and Katie Noonan. He has performed and recorded with Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and the Academy of Ancient Music in London, making him the first and only Australian composer whose music has been performed by this prestigious orchestra. He has regularly performed with the Sydney, Adelaide and West Australian Symphony orchestras. Joseph is currently based in London, UK but travels often to perform including Australian tours each year. Highlights include performing his own works with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the BBC Proms in Dubai and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s premiere Joseph’s Concerto for Oud & Orchestra.

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Financial Assistance for Artists affected by the COVID-19 crisis:

The Tait Memorial Trust has established an Emergency Relief Fund for Australia/New Zealand Artists to assist our talented young artists who overnight lost 6 months or more of work.

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