Chamamyan, Lena

Oriental Jazz | Syria

Lena Chamamyan is a free spirited young woman who has managed to win the hearts of audiences wherever she has appeared, with her charismatic aura and voice. Her partner in the development of her wonderful project is young trumpeter Basel Rajoub, who has accompanied her and helped her develop and realize the dream she always had of reviving the folkloric heritage of her country. Together, they present in a new jazzy mould some of the all time favourites of the classical folkloric repertoire from different parts of Syria, cities as well as remote rural areas.

From Armenian descent, Lena was born and raised in Damascus, where she completed studies in Economy, before turning to music and graduating from the Higher Institute of Music in Damascus in Classical singing. Her study years have been an occasion for her to take part in numerous classical singing workshops, as well as jazz workshops, with the likes of German accordionist Manfred Leuchter, which ended up in collaboration and a mutual appearance on each other’s albums. She has also collaborated with many jazz singers and appeared on multiple occasions in jazz festival and various concerts around the country, as well as in other Arab countries and even in Europe. She is a true star in the region, with more than 10,000 copies sold of each of her 2 albums, and thousands of fans gathering for each of her live performances.