Mesho (Michel) Awad was born in the town of Zwatini, along the western border region of Syria. At the age of 8, his father gave him his first tabl ? the large two headed drum that is a key percussion instrument of Levantine (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan) sha3bi or folk music, such as popular songs in the debkah repertoire. By age 15 he was performing professionally in local concerts as well as accompanying internationally known singers such as Assi Hilani and Milhem Zein. In 2000 Mesho came to the US and now makes Allentown, PA his home ? but plays up and down the East Coast at Arab cultural events, parties and concerts. He is known for his energetic style of tabl playing, incorporating, jumps, acrobatics and debke steps. For Circle ?Round 2009 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, Mesho enlivened the debkeh dance demonstration with his resounding syncopated tabl beat and energetic leaps and somersaults.