Global Local

Abdullah Chhadeh’s compositions speak of the people, places and emotions that have shaped his journey from East to West. Leaving Damascus in 1999 to move to the UK, he has since forged an international career as a qanun soloist and composer of striking technical brilliance and remarkable originality.

“Spellbinding”, “innovative”, “gifted” are words that are time and again used to describe the performances and compositions on which Chhadeh’s blossoming international reputation is built. A relentless musical adventurer, Chhadeh has spent the last five years introducing the qanun’s distinctive sound to new and occasionally unexpected settings. His versatility, inventiveness and technical brilliance ensure that he is in constant demand as a guest performer. His recordings and collaborations have included both solo performances and featured soloist work with Sinead O’Connor, Jocelyn Pook, Natacha Atlas and David Arnold among others.