Ashraf Kateb
Ashraf Kateb, born in 1969 in Aleppo, Syria, is a renowned Syrian-German violinist and composer. He has dedicated his career to promoting musical culture and preserving the Arabic music heritage. Kateb studied violin at prestigious music academies in Aleppo, Moscow, Berlin, and Cracow. Since 1992, he has resided in Berlin, Germany.
Kateb's career is marked by his participation in numerous international festivals and his unique position as the only Arab artist in the Philharmonia of the Nations. He has collaborated with prominent musicians such as Justus Franz, Leonard Bernstein, Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Sir Georg Solti, Mstislav Rostropovich, Igor Oistrakh, and Gidon Kremer. Additionally, he has worked extensively with sopranos Anna Maria Kaufmann and Deborah Sasson.
In 1997, Ashraf Kateb launched the "Arabic Music and the World" project, aiming to collect, perform, and disseminate works by leading Arab composers. His first CD, "Gesture," released in 2001 with Syrian-German pianist Gaswan Zerikly, was a significant success, showcasing violin and piano works by composers from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Morocco. In 2009, he was honored with the Silver Shield of the City of Aleppo for his contributions to musical culture.
Kateb's 2010 album, "Dia Succari, Composer from my Aleppo," features the complete works for violin and piano by Syrian composer Dia Succari, performed with 22 pianists from 21 nations. In 2015, he served as music director and composer for "Intima," a multimedia project exploring themes of self-discovery and conflict, inspired by Syria's cultural history.
Ashraf Kateb continues to perform globally, contributing significantly to the preservation and promotion of Arabic classical music.