Kinan Abou-afach

Born in Damascus, Kinan Abou-afach is a cellist, oud player, and composer currently based in Philadelphia. He is a recipient of the 2013 Pew Fellowship in the Arts for his exemplary talent as a performer and composer. He began his musical studies at the age of seven and went on to complete a Bachelors degree in cello performance with a minor in oud performance from the Higher Institute of Music in Damascus. He moved to Chicago in 2000 where he completed his Masters degree in Cello Performance at DePaul University School of Music in Chicago. As a composer, Kinan writes music that is influenced by Eastern and Western traditions. Several of his recent compositions were commissioned by Al-Bustan, notably: “Roads to Damascus” with visual artist Kevork Mourad premiered in February 2013; {De}perception with digital artist Ayman Alalao premiered in May 2015, “Of Night of Solace: Fantasia on Andalusian Muwashshah Poetry” premiered in December 2015, and “Nur: One Breath, One Soul” premiered in April 2016.

Damascus was a huge influence on me—a place where you can hear the Muslim call of prayer mixed with church bells. Mosques and churches playing simultaneously: that sweet sound was my first lesson in polyphony and harmony.
– Kinan Abou-Afach