Moonlight Road Presented in Partnership with the NYUAD Music Program

Kenan Adnawi

Kenan Adnawi is a Syrian virtuoso oud player, composer, and improviser known for blending traditional Middle Eastern music with classical, jazz, and contemporary styles. Based in Dubai, he has performed internationally and has won numerous awards for his talent.  Adnawi began playing the oud at age seven in Latakia, Syria. He went on to graduate from the High Institute of Music in Damascus in 2008, where he studied with Azerbaijani expert Askar Ali Akbar. His career includes performances with prestigious ensembles and orchestras at major venues around the world, including the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, Kennedy Center, La Scala, and the Bolshoi Theatre. Adnawi has toured extensively with the acclaimed Lebanese musician and composer Marcel Khalife. He released his debut album, Aura, in 2014, followed by Watar in 2023. He holds a Master's degree in contemporary music improvisation from the New England Conservatory in Boston.