Bio

“The Sultana of the Lute,” “the Princess of the Lute”: these are the nicknames given to Yousra Dhahbi. Born in Tunisia into a family of musicians—her father, a Sufi singer, raised his children amid the rhythms of evening singing sessions and rehearsals with his musical troupe—she received a particularly rigorous musical education that paved the way for an international career as a soloist. She has been hailed as the “first female lute soloist in the Arab world.” A highly creative artist, Yousra is an expert in the art of maqam (Arabic modal system) and Eastern vocal techniques. She places great emphasis on improvisation, crafting her melodies with exemplary rigor and inspiration, transcending all clichés. From 2001 to 2004, she served as director of the National Center for Music and Folk Arts in Tunis. In Switzerland, she taught the oud, oriental singing, and improvisation at the Conservatory and the Lausanne University of Music, and continues to do so at ADEM in Geneva. Her debut album, *Rhapsodie pour luth*, was released in 2004 as part of the collection of the Arab World Institute in Paris and distributed by Harmonia Mundi.