Echo from the Levant : Tradition Improvised ^2025-2026

Musician and composer from Syria, Bashar blends alternative sounds with deep cultural roots, connecting traditional heritage with modern influences. He is the co-founder and lead vocalist of Kulna Sawa, whose widely acclaimed albums helped shape the Arab alternative music scene, and the creative force behind his solo album Baladi.

Through his work with Kulna Sawa, he collaborated and shared the stage with artists such as Ziad Rahbani, Mohamed Mounir, Dominic Chianese of The Sopranos, and Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary.

Recognized at international festivals, Bashar believes in music as a universal language that bridges cultures and transcends borders.

Rasha is a Syrian Canadian violinist who graduated from the Higher Institute of Music in 2006, completing her violin performance studies with Professor Uliana Golikova. She performed with several orchestras, including the Syrian National Orchestra (Classical and Arabic), the Syrian Chamber Orchestra, and the Marie Female Orchestra. She also participated in the West–Eastern Divan Orchestra under Daniel Barenboim and in theopera program of the Maggio Fiorentino in Florence, touring Europe, the Arab world, and Latin America, and performing at major festivals and venues including the BBC Proms, the Teatro Colón in Argentina, and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.

Rasha lived in Riyadh where she founded the city’s first music school in 2012, giving access to music education for children and adults.

Now based in Montreal, she performs with Ensemble Obiora, Ensemble Oktoecho, and enjoys the city’s rich and vibrant music scene, collaborating with artists across genres while continuing to explore new creative projects.

Elissa began studying piano at the age of four. After training at the Sulhi al-Wadi Conservatory in Syria and the National Higher Institute of Music (in Victoria Snobar’s class), she moved to Montreal to study at McGill University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in 2022 under Kyoko Hashimoto.

She has performed with the Al Farah Choir in France, alongside Eyad Al Rimawi in Syria, and in solo recital at the Damascus Opera House. Deeply engaged in contemporary music, she participated in the Domaine Forget summer academy and was an artist-in-residence at the Banff Centre. With her ensemble À Mer, she is part of Le Vivier’s Pôle Relève program.

She regularly collaborates with Syrian artists in Montreal, including Ayham Abou Ammar and Hayhat the Band (Bashar Moussa). Founder of the “Darbouka and Arabic Singing Project” workshops, she is currently completing her Master’s degree at McGill, while accompanying and teaching piano in Montreal.

Nawar Helala is a Montreal-based trumpeter who received classical performance training at the Université de Montréal, where he completed a Bachelor’s degree in Music. With over 16 years of classical training, he brings strong orchestral experience and has performed both as a solo trumpeter and with various symphonic ensembles.

Alongside his classical background, Nawar developed deep expertise in Middle Eastern music through specialized studies at the Damascus Conservatory of Music. His artistic approach is distinguished by his ability to unite the precision and refinement of Western repertoire with the expressive richness, microtonal nuances, and interpretive traditions of Middle Eastern music.

A versatile musician and experienced educator, he has been teaching trumpet for over 10 years in both private and community settings, sharing his passion and expertise with the next generation of musicians.

Iván Darío is a bassist and guitarist specializing in R&B, hip-hop, jazz, Latin, and Middle Eastern fusion. He studied at Humber College and also performs as an experimental rapper under the name Courrier Rouge.

Abdullah is currently completing a Master’s degree in Drama Therapy at Concordia University (Class of 2024). An actor and drama therapy practitioner, he began playing percussion at the age of 11 with Sufi music ensembles in Syria, specializing in the katem.

In 2015, he joined the band Assa’aleek in Lebanon as a percussionist and later became its manager, a role he continues to hold. That same year, he co-founded Tajalli Sufi Band, which was invited to perform at the Konya Sufi Festival in Turkey in 2021. He managed the group until his arrival in Canada in 2022.

Between 2015 and 2022, he also co-founded Rouh Sufi Band, Antiqu-a, and Monte Carlo Band. In 2017, he learned the Irish bodhrán and performed with The Trials of Cato until 2020.

A versatile percussionist, Abdullah has participated in hundreds of concerts and festivals in Lebanon and Syria. Now based in Canada, he continues his artistic journey with Hyhat and collaborates with several renowned Arab musicians.