Biography
Mustafa Said is a composer, musicologist and virtuoso oud player. He is one of the few young talents to devote his career to the classical Arabic repertoire while also exploring new forms and sounds.
Said has performed as a soloist or member of an ensemble in festivals and events across 15 countries, including the Dresden Music Festival, Germany (2015); Irtijal’15, Al Madina Theater, Beirut (2015); Shubbak Festival, Barbican Centre, London (2015); Burdah, Al Madinah Theater, Beirut (2014); Fes Festival for Spiritual Music, Morocco (2012) and Qartaj Festival for Theater, Tunis (2012).
He has also worked as an archivist, administrator and educator in positions such as Director, Arab Music Archiving and Research Foundation (AMAR), Beirut (2010–present); Founder and Artistic Director of Asil Ensemble for Contemporary Classical Arabic Music (2003–present); Artistic and Archives Manager, AMAR, Beirut (2008–2010); Instructor of Oud, Singing, Improvisation and Maqam, Collège des Pères Antonins, Baabda, Lebanon (2006–2013) and Instructor of Oud and Arabic Oriental Music Theory, Bait El Oud, Cairo (2004–2006). Among his research projects for AMAR was a collaboration with Sharjah Art Foundation titled Rawdat al-Balabel, a series of 104 podcasts about classical Arabic music posted online by both AMAR and the foundation over the course of 52 weeks (2013–2014).
He received a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Ain Shams University, Cairo (2003) and two master’s degrees from the Higher Institute of Music, Université Antonine, Baabda, one in music and general and analytical musicology (2009) and one in the musicology of traditions (2010). Both degrees were supervised by Nidaa Abou-Mrad, and the second master’s degree programme was organised in collaboration with Université Paris-Sorbonne, Paris IV.
Born in 1983 in Cairo, Said lives and works in Beirut.
SAF participation:
Web Radio: Rawdat al-Balabel (2013–2014)