Brooklyn Arts Council

Simon Shaheen. Photo: by Jeff Berman

An oud and violin virtuoso, Simon Shaheen is considered one of the world�s leading Arab and Middle Eastern musicians. A Palestinian, born in the village of Tarshiha, Shaheen�s childhood was steeped in music. He began playing the oud at age five and the violin at age six, continuing his studies at the Academy of Music in Jerusalem in 1978, where he taught for two years. In 1980, Shaheen moved to New York City to complete his graduate studies at the Manhattan School of Music and Columbia University. After arriving in New York, Shaheen formed the Near Eastern Music Ensemble, a group dedicated to performing traditional Arab music. Since 1994, Shaheen has produced the Annual Arab Festival of Arts, called "Mahrajan al-Fan." Held in New York, the festival showcases the work of the finest Arab artists, while presenting the scope, depth and quality of Arab culture. An influential educator, Shaheen founded the Annual Arabic Music Retreat in 1997. This weeklong intensive program of Arab music studies, held each summer at Mount Holyoke College, draws participants from the U.S. and abroad. Shaheen tours internationally, promoting awareness of Arab music through numerous lecture and workshop presentations.

Artist's Website

Interview with NPR December 2001

March 2004 performance with Near Eastern Music Ensemble at McDaniels College

Related Categories

Folk / Traditional Arts, Music, Instrumentalist, Traditional / Culturally Specific