The conductor and pianist Saleem Abboud Ashkar began his music studies at the Nazareth Conservatory. Studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London under Maria Corcho, and continued his studies at the Higher School of Music and Dance in Hannover with Arie Verdi. Having his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 22, Abboud Ashkar established an exciting international career as a pianist and a conductor – performing throughout the world with major Orchestras and developing close relationship with many leading conductors. A dedicated recitalist and chamber musician, Abboud Ashkar has a particularly strong reputation as a Beethoven specialist and is recording the complete Beethoven Piano Sonata cycle for Decca. Alongside leading the Chamber Galilee Orchestra, Abboud Ashkar is closely involved in several other education projects, including the Al-Farabi Music Academy in Berlin which he co-founded, and which works with young people who do not have access to a musical education. He is an Assistant Professor of the Practice of Music at Brown University in Boston.
