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Artist
Joseph Tawadros
12+ albums
oudegyptarabicinstrumentalworld fusion
about
Joseph Tawadros is a Oud and violin player and composer from Egypt. He was born in Cairo, in 1983. Immigrating to Australia in 1986, he brought with him a musical tradition inherited from his maternal grandfather, Mansi Habib (1920-1957), an active composer and an oud and violin virtuoso in Cairo. Tawadros’ uncle, Yacoub Mansi Habib, is also an active professional Egyptian musician and recognised as one of the pioneering figures in Egyptian trumpet playing, also influenced his musical interest immensely. Joseph Tawadros has studied with Mohamed Youssef, a renowned oud player, jazz pianist and family friend. Youssef encouraged Joseph to explore the musical parameters of the oud and the traditional Egyptian taqasim, a performing style akin to improvisation. This, combined with tremendous talent, has resulted in Joseph Tawadros’ personal style being uniquely instinctive in his music's improvised content. At the age of 12, he began performing in a trio with his teacher Youssef and Tarek Sawires, a fine traditional percussionist. This platform enabled the young musician to expose his compositions to the public for the first time. Since these formative years, Tawadros has explored diverse ways of expanding the role of the oud as an instrument in Australian society. As a member of the Coptic Orthodox Church, his musical education has also been fostered by his involvement in this important part of his life, establishing a Coptic Youth Orchestra with his friend, saxophonist Christia
