Orsho, Dima & Zerikly, Gazwan

Classical Oriental | Syria

Gazwan Zerikly:
Gazwan Zerikly was born in Damascus in 1954. He studied at the Arab Conservatory of Music in Damascus, nowadays known as the Solhi Al Wadi Conservatory. In 1977, he obtained a PhD in Germany in the field of Interpretation Techniques. In 1981, he received another PhD for Piano Teaching in what was then the USSR.

Gazwan has won several important prizes in Portugal, Spain, Russia and Italy, among others. He has performed concerts in more than 20 countries in America, Europe, Asia and Africa. He is currently a highly courted concert pianist and Professor in the High Institute of Music and Drama in Damascus.

Dima Orsho:
Born in Damascus 1975, Dima Orsho studied Piano at the Arab Conservatory of Music in Damascus. She holds a degree in Opera Performance & Clarinet from the Damascus High Institute of Music and Drama, as well as a degree in Opera Performance from the Boston Conservatory.

She has performed on stage as a soloist in the Middle East, Europe and the USA, including appearances with the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra in 1995, a solo performance for the opening of the first Opera House in Damascus in 2004, as well as several European performances with the ZTH. Dima has also performed on stage with Ziad Rahbani at Piccadilly Theater in 1987. She holds the dual role of composer and singer in the Leish Troup for Movement Theater.
Dima joined the Hewar ensemble in 2003, and toured extensively with the band between 2004 and 2005. They have released two albums in 2005 and 2007, through Lebanon’s Incognito Productions.