SAAD HADDAD composer

Saad Haddad (b. 1992) is a composer known for his distinctive blend of Western art music and Middle Eastern musical traditions, a fusion that has garnered praise from critics, including the New York Times.

His recent commissions highlight his ability to bridge cultural divides through music. These include a piano concerto for IRCAM and the Orchestre national d’Île-de-France, a clarinet concerto for Kinan Azmeh and the Princeton Symphony, and an orchestral work for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Additionally, he has composed for a variety of ensembles, from the International Contemporary Ensemble to the Imani Winds, showcasing his versatility across genres.

His compositions have been performed by esteemed orchestras and ensembles worldwide, including the Minnesota Orchestra and the JACK Quartet, with international performances spanning Europe, Asia, and South America.

Recognitions for his work include the Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Barlow Endowment General Commission, and the S&R Foundation Washington Award Grand Prize. He has also participated in residencies at institutions like the Millay Colony for the Arts and the Bogliasco Foundation.

Dr. Haddad is committed to music education, serving on the faculties of Columbia University and New Jersey City University, and currently as Composer-in-Residence with the California Symphony. He is the founder of The Composer's Brain, an online collective of over 3,000 composers from all around the world actively growing as artists.

Based in New Jersey with his wife and their two dogs, Saad Haddad continues to explore the intersections of cultural identity through his music.