Bassam Saba of Lebanon is a world-renowned virtuoso, multi-instrumentalist, and leading figure of Arabic music. Saba studied nay, oud and violin at the Lebanon National Conservatory. Saba received his BA in Western Classical music and Flute Performance at the Conservatoire Municipal des Gobelins in Paris, and Masters in Western Flute Performance and Music Education from the Gnessin Musical Pedagogical Institute in Moscow. Regarded by the world as a true pioneer of the nay and Arabic interpretation of western flute, Saba was pursued by many of the greatest Arab, Western classical, and Western pop icons. Saba has toured extensively with Fairouz, Marcel Khalife, and Simon Shaheen, and has worked with other Arab greats such as Ziad Rahbani, Wadi' El-Safi, Majida El-Roumi and Taoufiq Farroukh. He has collaborated with classical and pop stars such as Yo-Yo Ma, Sting, Alicia Keys and Santana, and jazz icons such as Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones. Saba, one of the most sought-after teachers of Arabic music, co-founded and directs the New York Arabic Orchestra, 35-piece ensemble and emerging not-for-profit organization pioneering Arabic music performance and education in the U.S. Saba performs with Simon Shaheen's Al-Qantara and Near Eastern Music Ensemble, Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, and the New York Arabic Orchestra where he premieres his original works. Collaborations of note include recording on Sting’s album If on a Winter’s Night, and Saba as the featured soloist of Daniel Schnyder’s Nay Concerto. As a soloist, Saba has performed with philharmonics worldwide and has toured throughout the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Australia, NZ, Africa and Japan. Saba released his album in 2010 of all-original music entitled Wonderful Land. www.bassamsaba.com
