Q

Kinan Azmeh pays musical tribute to Damascus in his q block party

Acclaimed clarinetist Kinan Azmeh shares some of the music that shaped him as a musician growing up in Damascus, Syria.
Kinan Azmeh performs an original piece with the TSO to celebrate the arrival of the first Syrian refugees to Canada. (YouTube)

Kinan Azmeh is an acclaimed clarinetist and a member of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, but he has sometimes struggled with what his role should be as a musician.

Azmeh is from Syria and when conflict began he started to question what the responsibility of an artist should be in times of war and crisis. In this edition of the q block party, Azmeh shares some of the music that shaped him as a musician growing up in Damascus. He also tells us what he believes is the power and importance of music during dark times. 

Produced by Ben Edwards