“Born Communicator”

The Independent

Karim Said is known for pushing the boundaries of artistic expression as an award-winning pianist, conductor, and composer. From an early age, his talent and dedication have propelled him to the forefront of the classical music scene. His first major concerto performances were in 2009 at London’s Barbican Centre with the English Chamber Orchestra under the baton of the late Sir Colin Davis, and at the Royal Albert Hall, (BBC Proms) with Daniel Barenboim.

Karim's musical journey began at the young age of five, when he discovered his love for the piano and classical music. Ever since, he had a distinctive ability to communicate and connect with audiences through music; a "born communicator" as described by the Independent.

Karim has performed on some of the world’s most renowned stages, captivating audiences both as a solo pianist and chamber musician. This was made possible largely through his association with Daniel Barenboim, who first heard Karim perform at the age of ten, saying: ‘what you cannot learn, he already knows.’ Highlights include appearances at such festivals and venues as the UK’s Aldeburgh Festival, Philharmonie in Berlin, Philharmonie de Paris, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, the Great Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, and the Musashino Concert Hall in Tokyo. His love for Schoenberg's music led him to perform the composer's complete published solo works at London's Southbank Centre, as part of "The Rest Is Noise” festival.

Karim's dedication to his craft also extends to his native Middle East, where he regularly performs in Jordan, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates.

One of Karim's distinguishing strengths lies in his ability to draw connections between different eras of Western classical music. His talent and interests extend to modern and renaissance music, as evidenced by his critically acclaimed ‘exceptionally thoughtful’ (The Guardian) album, "Legacy," which draws connections between the works of William Byrd and Albert Schoenberg. Karim’s first album release was “Echoes from an Empire” - 2015 , and his latest release in 2024, consisted of music by Mozart, Schoenberg, Webern and Beethoven.

Driven by his fascination with the sound of the orchestra and the creative process, Karim ventured into conducting and composing at an early age, embracing a comprehensive artistic path. He was the subject of the BBC4/Allegro Films documentary ‘Karim’s Journey’, which followed his progress as a developing artist at the Purcell School of Music in the UK, where he was awarded a full scholarship.

Amidst the challenges posed by the global pandemic, Karim seized the opportunity to give back to his native community, and established the Amman Chamber Orchestra as its founding principal conductor and accepted the post of director of music at the new Amman Institute of Performing Arts in Jordan, both initiatives of the Bank al Etihad Foundation. As Director of Music at the foundation, Karim focuses his efforts on establishing a regional hub for musical education and world-class performances that embrace both Western and Middle Eastern classical music in an increasingly thriving environment in Jordan.

Karim has been an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (London) since 2017.