Rahim AlHaj

Iraqi oud virtuoso, composer, and two-time Grammy nominee Rahim AlHaj was born in Baghdad and began playing the oud at age 9. After studying with masters at the Institute of Music in Baghdad, garnering numerous honors, and graduating in 1990 with a diploma in composition, he was forced to flee the country in the wake of Gulf War due to his activism against the Saddam Hussein regime. Now a U.S. citizen, Mr. AlHaj has released seven albums, including the live CD Iraqi Music in a Time of War. He also formed the musical group Little Earth Orchestra, which blends western instruments with Arabic styles of music.