Joseph Tawadros

Joseph Tawadros

Tawadros at the 2014 ARIA Music Awards, Sydney, November 26th, 2014
Background information
Born 1983 (age 32–33)
Origin Cairo, Egypt
Genres jazz, World music, Classical
Occupation(s) musician/composer
Instruments oud,
Years active 1995—present
Website josephtawadros.com

Joseph Tawadros AM (born 1983 in Cairo, Egypt) is a Coptic Australian oud virtuoso.[1]

Biography

His family emigrated from Egypt to Australia when he was three.[2] Initially attracted to the trumpet, he decided to learn oud when he was eight, after seeing a movie about Egypt's famous musicien, Sayed Darwish.[3] He is classically trained, having completed a bachelor of music at the University of New South Wales, where he was awarded a Freedman Fellowship for Classical Music.[2] In the 2000s, he also studied in Egypt with violin player Esawi Dagher, son of the legendary violin player Abdo Dagher. During the years that followed, he spent three months a year in Egypt and learned to play other instruments: the bamboo flute nay, the Arabic zither qanun and the cello.[3] He won the Australian Recording Industry Award in 2012 for the best New World Music Album.[4] He had been nominated nine times before, without winning.[5] He won it again in 2013 and 2014.[6][7]

Style

Joseph Tawadros’style is described as very eclectic. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, "he has taken the oud out of its traditional Middle Eastern setting and into the realm of classical music and jazz".[2] "I don't like to play in a particulare genre, I love all sorts of music", Tawadros explains. "I try to record an album a year and one that's totally different from the previous album".[8] He has collaborated with musicians such as John Abercrombie, Jack DeJohnette, Roy Ayers, Bela Fleck, Joey DeFrancesco, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and The Academy of Ancient Music.

Trivia

Joseph Tawadros is known for his caustic sense of humour. During a concert at Sydney Opera House, as he found the public too passive, he told them that he and his brother James were just back from Afghanistan, where they played for the troops. The public applauded enthusiastically. He then added : "Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, it's great. I mean, who knew the Taliban loved classical music?"[3]

Discography

Albums

Musical scores

Music scores composed for the following films:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Creagh, Sunanda (1 November 2006). "Joseph Tawadros – Gig Reviews". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Creagh, Sunanda (27 October 2012). "From ancient strings, a new mood for the oud". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Long journey from Redfern to a world of musical riches for Joseph Tawadros". The Australian. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  4. ↑ Creagh, Sunanda (28 March 2013). "Oud player keeps good company". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  5. ↑ "Oud player hits the high notes". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). 28 March 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  6. ↑ http://www.ariaawards.com.au/news/64/aria
  7. ↑ http://www.aria.com.au/documents/2014ARIAAwardsConnectedByTelstra-Nominatedartistsrevealed.pdf
  8. ↑ "The Dreamers. Joseph Tawadros". mapmagazine. Retrieved 1 September 2013.

External links

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