WOMAD

Omar Bashir

From Hungary, Iraq

Omar Bashir Born in 1970 in Hungary. His mother is Hungarian, his father was the international Iraqi Ud virtuoso Munir Bashir and his uncle was the Ud Maestro Jamil Bashir.
At the age of five, Omar left Hungary with his parents to live in Iraq, where he grew up.
The Ud, which accompanies him everywhere in his performances, is the very one that was given to him by his father Munir Bashir when he was five years old when Omar began his classical Ud training by his father, practising for up to five hours daily.
At the age of seven Omar joined the Baghdad Music and Ballet School where he made his Ud solo debut at the age of nine, performing solo at the Baghdad Conservatory.
In his late teens he became teacher at the Baghdad Music and Ballet school, setting up his own band of 24 musicians specialising in classical Iraqi music.
Omar's debut with his father Munir Bashir was at the age of thirteen and by the age of twenty, he was regularly performing Ud alongside his father.
In 1991 Omar's parents moved back to Hungary, where Omar studied piano, singing and direction a choir at the Liszt University and continuing to work and perform Ud duets alongside his father until Munir Bashir's death in 1997. The father and son performed internationally: Egypt and various countries in the Arab world, Russia, Turkey, USA, Canada and Europe.
The death of his father marked a turning point in Omar Bashir's musical career. Finding his unique musical identity and sound through experimenting and exploring various instruments alongside his Ud. He also collaborated with many international artist. He was granted copyright by Gypsy King to perform one of their songs.
Omar won many recognitions and international award for his work and musical achievement. He has performed internationally in most prestigious musical halls and often in the presence of notable figures.
On the first Anniversary of the World Trade Centre by official invitation from the Institute and the US government and The Institute of Arab Music. The aim was to raise funds for the Iraqi Symphony Orchestra who were brought over to perform in the US. He also took part in various charity performances to raise fund for Iraqi children.

(Biography supplied by artist management 2011)

Omar Bashir. Bint Al Chalabiya,budapest 2008