Maher mahmoud

Maher Mahmoud is a Syrian composer and oud player. Born in 1986 in Salamiya, a city in central Syria, he lived in Damascus until 2012, when he briefly relocated to Jordan. In 2013, Maher moved to Denmark, where he currently resides.

Maher began his musical education at the age of six, learning to play the Arabic oud. He graduated from the Higher Institute of Music in Damascus in 2010, where he studied the oud in-depth and explored both Arabic and Western classical music. In 2019, he graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Denmark, earning an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in rhythmic composition (The Soloist-Line).

Since 2005, Maher has composed and arranged music for a variety of ensembles, including big bands, symphony orchestras, solo performances, Arabic takht ensembles, and chamber orchestras. He has a deep interest in world music and is passionate about experimenting with new sounds on the oud and exploring contemporary music styles.

Over the years, Maher has collaborated with numerous bands and artists across Denmark, the UK, and Europe. His notable collaborations include work with Damon Albarn and Brian Eno, the Berlin Chamber Orchestra, Dunia Ensemble, the Syrian Expat Philharmonic Orchestra, EU.Terpe Orchestra, Dicte, the JSO Bremen-Nord Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra of Syrian Musicians, the RUM band, Blood-Sweat-Drum & Bass Big Band, S. Møller Big Band, 12 Musicians From Another Place, Art Ensemble Syd, Listen! Trio, Nouri Iskandar String Quartet, Li Dine, Simon Spang-Hansen & Middle Earth, Jiraan, Grænseløs, Jovan Pavlovic Trio, and many others.

In addition to his performances, Maher is working on several projects that bridge Arabic, jazz, and classical oriental music. He is also building a network of professional musicians across Europe, collaborating with Danish musicians. Among his initiatives are the Syrian Expat Ensemble, Yamm Ensemble, and OrnaGroove Trio.

Maher's debut album, Mirage, was released in 2010.

Yamm Ensemble

Syrian Expat Ensemble (Previously)

The ensemble includes Syrian musicians who studied together previously at The Higher Institute of Music in Damascus and used to be members of the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic music.

The musicians play different styles of music range between Syrian classical, traditional, and folk music.

Maher Mahmoud -composer and oud player- leads the ensemble. In 2015 He started reassembling the group in cooperation with the known Danish musician Morten Carlsen in Denmark, where they met the first time after few years of separation. Carrying many new experiences they play different events and concerts within The Syrian Culture Caravan (2015, 2016, 2017) in Denmark: Copenhagen, Aarhus, Roskilde, Hjørring, Odense, Køge and many others.

Beside playing in Denmark, they have been touring in Europe and UK with Damon Albarn, Brian Eno, The Orchestra of Syrian Musicians and The Syrian Expat Philharmonic Orchestra.

The ensemble plays original compositions and other works belong to Syrian classical and traditional music, in addition to different contemporary works by Syrian composers.

RUH DUO

Ruh Duo consists of Maher Mahmoud (oud) and Mette Marie Ørnstrup (vocal and percussion).
The two musicians has worked together for more than 10 years and combines Ottoman/Syrian tradition with new composition and free improvisation.

It is music created for being - together, and invites for immersion in the inner space.
It is the music of the small details, with the depth of micro-tonality, where the pauses have as much weight as the outspoken.

Ruh Duo works both as a duo, but also in different collaborations with both illustrator, painter and writer Jacinta Madsen and visual artist Eva Esmann Behrens.

Ruh Duo feat. Jacinta Madsen - Live at Aarhus Jazz Festival 2021

Dunia Ensemble