Born in Paris but raised in Lebanon, composer and violinist Layale Chaker was raised speaking multiple languages, both linguistically and musically. Her complex sound universe, described by NPRas “beguiling” with “bright and beautiful strands... gorgeous, wine-dark swirls,” lies at the intersection of classical contemporary music, jazz, Arabic music, and improvisation. A 2020-2022 Jerome HillFellow, Chaker is also recipient of the 2022 Opera America Discovery 2022 Award, among many other accolades.

To open Chaker’s 2023-2024 season, she performs as violin soloist alongside clarinetist Kinan Azmeh in the premiere performances of their Dawning with the New York Philharmonic and Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra. Ruinous Gods, Chaker’s debut full-length chamber opera in collaboration with librettist Lisa Schlesinger, will see its world premiere at the 2024 Spoleto Festival, followed by its European premiere at Wuppertal Opera in the fall of 2024. This season also brings the release of anew double portrait album on In a Circle Records, one disc featuring Chaker’s classical works performed by the ETHEL Quartet, and the other a complementary portrait with Chaker’s chamber jazz quintet, Sarafand.

In February 2024, Sarafand takes on a residency with the University of Richmond–exemplifying the quintet’s role within the “cultural aquifer,” or educational feeder system for future artists. The ensemble recently completed a year-long residency as part of WQXR’s Artist Propulsion Lab, yielding a program of new works–called Radio Afloat–that has been recorded for an upcoming album release. Sarafand has performed throughout the U.S., Europe and the Middle East and their debut album, Inner Rhyme (In a Circle Records), ranked #2 on NPR’s 10 Best Releases of 2019.

Chaker commenced her musical training at the National Higher Conservatory of Beirut in her native country, before pursuing higher degrees at the Conservatoire de Paris and the Royal Academy of Music in London. She is a Laureate of the 2019 Concours international de Chant-Piano Nadia et Lili Boulanger; Finalist of the 2018 Rolex Mentor & Protege Prize; winner of the 2017 Ruth Anderson Competition; and recipient of the 2019 Diaphonique Franco-British Commission Prize, the 2018 ArabFund for Arts and Culture Grant and the 2018 Royal Academy of Music Guinness Award.

www.layalechaker.com