Darat al Funun is pleased to present the Al Khatib Salameh Nowak Trio, consisting of oud player and composer Ahmad al Khatib, percussionist Nasser Salameh and clarinet player Lena Nowak. With a repertoire of contemporary pieces by al Khatib that weaves together the heritage of Arabic music with brave new ideas, the trio explores simplicity and complexity, melody and harmony, woven together in an intricate rhythmical framework.

Ahmad Al Khatib (1974) started learning Oud since childhood and continued his studies in musicology and classical western cello at Al-Yarmouk University (Jordan). He won his first prize of Solo Oud Playing Competition in 1990 and 1991. After graduating from University with honors in 1997, Al Khatib settled in Ramallah (Palestine). He joined the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in East Jerusalem and started teaching in the Oriental Music Department, later heading it. Since 2004, he has been residing in Sweden, where he obtained a Master's degree in Ethnomusicology and Methodology of Musical Education. Al Khatib released his first solo CD named “Sada”, meaning “resonance” in 2004 performing his own compositions.

Nasser Salameh (1977) began his musical career as a Percussionist at the age of 17 and then continued to teach himself the skills and arts of Percussion instruments. He worked at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Palestine and at the National Conservatory of Music in Jordan as a Percussionist teacher and participated in many of the world-class percussion workshops. He completed his bachelor's degree in Business and Accounting from Mu'tah University in 2000. During his studies, he was awarded the first prize in Solo performance within all Jordanian universities for three consecutive years. He also achieved the special prize at the International Mugam Contest in Azerbaijan in 2013 and second place in the same competition in 2015. Salameh graduated in 2016 with a master's degree in music from the University of Jordan. Salameh ’s uniqueness comes primarily from his diversity as a percussion player; not only is he an expert in the intricate art of Arabic instruments and rhythms, he is also highly experienced with many other percussion instruments from all over the world. Salameh regularly participates in local and international performances and apart from this, and records with many local and international bands and musicians.

Magdalena Nowak (1993) is a Gothenburg-based Polish clarinet player. While studying classical music at the Fryderyk Chopin University in Warsaw, she simultaneously pursued her career as an improviser and folk musician. She continued her studies in Gothenburg where she is currently studying at the world music department. She uses techniques and ideas from different musical backgrounds, and the clarinet as a tool of expression and a bridge between different styles. She worked with several projects in Poland (Warsaw Sentimantal Orchestra, Wano Wejta, Warsaw Improvisers Orchestra) and Sweden (Kompania Pergamos, Unihorns, Ahmad Al Khatib), recording several albums, one of which received the Polish Radio award for the best folk album of the year in 2016.