Athar Orchestra New York
Athar Orchestra New York is a non-profit organization which serves to promote the beauty of Arabic music, poetry, and visual arts within the New York City community.
Athar Orchestra New York—named by H.E. Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo and led by Faraj Abyad—is dedicated to uniting the rich and diverse musical cultures of New York City through Arabic poetry and Maqam. Presenting bi-monthly concerts in the city’s most iconic venues, the orchestra offers audiences a singular blend of tradition and innovation.
H.E. Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo shares the inspiration behind the orchestra’s name, Athar: "Arabic, with all its richness, allows the word 'Athar' to convey many shades of meaning—Trace, Mark, Legacy, Heritage, Impression, Effect, and Influence. We chose this name because 'Athar' embodies not only dedication and human generosity, but also the values of determination and solidarity in the pursuit of cultural dialogue, the exchange of thought and knowledge, and the connection between the civilizations of East and West. It also reflects the transformative power of music and its unique ability to carry this message to the world."
،لِما تجسّده مفردة "أثر" من معاني التفاني والعطاء الإنساني”
،ومن قيم العزم والتضامن في مسيرة حوار الثقافات ولقاء الفكر والمعرفة
،وتواصل الحضارات بين الشرق والغرب
وقوة الموسيقى ودورها في نشر هذه الرسالة إلى العالم
سعادة هُدى الخميس كانو
About the Orchestra
Athar is conducted by Ismail Lumanovski—a Juilliard alumnus and New York Times–acclaimed virtuoso of the oriental clarinet—who leads with unmatched artistry. Under his direction, the orchestra’s 12-piece string section, comprised of top Juilliard students and virtuosic soloists from Classical Arabic, Jazz, and world music backgrounds, joins world-leading soloists across genres, including Arabic, Flamenco, Turkish, Afro-Cuban, Classical, and Jazz. Together, up to 30 musicians share the stage in a dynamic, cross-cultural performance that brings these diverse musical traditions vividly to life.
Vocals / Leader Faraj Abyad
Clarinet / Music Director Ismail Lumanovski
Arrangers Dayramir Gonzalez, Nami Nazar, Ahmad Rami, & Osama Badawe
Supporting Vocalist / Vocal Harmony Arrangements Rana Baransi
Qanun Tamer Pinarbasi
Piano Ruslan Agababayev Dayramir Gonzalez
Bass François Moutin
Percussion Zafer Tawil Alber Baseel
Guitar Guillermo Guillén
Juilliard Strings
Violin Nami Nazar (Section Leader), Chris Hummel, Dexter Doris, Isabela Diaz, Taian Yan, John Lee
Viola Pearl de la Motte, Max Turner, John Tobin
Cello Namisa Sun, Jonathan Entenza, Javier Hernandez
Horns
Trumpet Sam Hoyt
Trombone Nadav Nirenberg
Saxophone Anthony Nelson
Athar aims to achieve the highest quality performance and sound in their concerts and recordings, utilizing unique approaches to music and sound design.
Our board and production team include some of New York’s most accomplished musicians, sound designers, and producers. Through albums, workshops, concerts, and festivals, Athar celebrates Arabic culture and its remarkable power to create harmony between the diverse communities of the Arab world and New York.
Board of Directors
John McCormick
Mayssam Latif
Nouriel Roubini
Alexandre Tannous
Jonathan Weiss
Production team
Director or Operations
Nour Husban
Social Media and Photography
Omer Gorashi
Outreach & Programing
Samar Qawasimi
Graphics/Calligraphy
Maece Seirafi
Video Editing
Sahar Al-Jamal
Fiscal Sponsorship with Jazz Gallery
Athar is proud to partner with The Jazz Gallery, a leading international hub for emerging jazz artists. The Gallery nurtures young talent through collaboration, creative exploration, and performance opportunities, while upholding its reputation as a cornerstone of NYC’s jazz scene. Since 2002, it has commissioned new works by rising composers—many later honored with MacArthur “Genius” Grants, Doris Duke Awards, and Grammys—and helped launch twelve Thelonious Monk Competition winners. A three-time CMA/ASCAP Award winner, The Jazz Gallery is hailed by The New York Times as “the most imaginatively booked jazz club in New York.”
Contribute to our initiative
Join us! You can support the creative work of Athar by making a tax-deductible donation through the Jazz Gallery, our fiscal sponsor.
In donation notes please indicate “Athar.”