Armed with a Oud, a beard and a bucket load of appreciation for Egyptian greats like Sayed Darwish, Joseph Tawadros has spent the better part of the last 20 years honing a unique, eclectic sound the pulls together Middle Eastern music, classical musical and jazz – plus a few surprises along the way.
The classically trained musician has added the nay, qanun and cello to his repertoire on his musical journey, making him one of the most versatile and refined musicians modernising and celebrating Middle Eastern musical heritage today. It’s a feat that has nabbed him several awards from the Australian Recording Industry Association and he’s just been nominated from another, though this time from the Australian Independent Record Labels Association’s AIR Awards.
Tawadros has been nominated in the Best Classical Album or EP category for his acclaimed 2019 album, Betrayal of a Sacred Sunflower. The 16-track album won plaudits from all corners, with an Sidney Morning Herald review calling it “his gentlest, sparsest and saddest opus yet, as though he has finally found permission to let the showier displays of his phenomenal craft evaporate, leaving this kernel of pure sonic moonlight.”
Tawadros will be up against Amy Dickson (In Circles); Katie Noonan and the Australian String Quartet (The Glad Tomorrow); Richard Tognetti and Erin Helyard (Beethoven & Mozart Violin Sonatas); and Staurt Skelton, Asher Fish, and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (Tristan und Isolde).
The ceremony is scheduled to take place at Adelaide's Free Masons Hall on October 1st, but plans have already been put in place to move things online if COVID-19 restrictions dictate so.
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