Joseph Tawadros (born 6 October 1983) is an Egyptian-born Australian award-winning multi-instrumentalist and oud virtuoso. Tawadros has won the ARIA Award for Best World Music Album seven times: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2020,"And the 2020 ARIA Award Goes To..." 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Biography Tawadros' family emigrated from Egypt to Australia when he was three. Initially playing the trumpet, he learnt the oud at age eight, after seeing a movie about Egyptian musician Sayed Darwish. He was School Captain at Randwick Boys High School, where he was taught by Derek Williams.Bliss, Raylene. (31 July 2017). 'Joseph Tawadros on the road with his Live at Abbey Road tour'. The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Tawadros is classically trained, having completed a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of New South Wales, where he was awarded a Freedman Fellowship for Classical Music, and in 2025, an honorary doctorate. His brother James Tawadros is a musician who regularly plays percussion, notably the riq, with Joseph.'James Tawadros'. mso.com.au - official site of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
In the 2000s, Tawadros also studied in Egypt with violinist Esawi Dagher, son of violinist player Abdo Dagher.Metwali, Ati. 10 May 2021. 'World renowned Egyptian musician Abdo Dagher dies at 85'. Al-Ahram. Egypt. Tawadros spent three months a year in Egypt and learnt to play other instruments: the bamboo flute nay, the Arabic zither qanun and the cello.
At the 2012 ARIA Music Awards, Tawadros won Best World Music Album for Concerto of the Greater Sea (February 2012). He won the same category in 2013 for Chameleons of the White Shadow (February 2013), 2014 for Permission to Evaporate (May 2014) and 2020 for Live at the Sydney Opera House (June 2020). He also won Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album in 2017 for Ali's Wedding (September 2017).
Style Joseph Tawadros' style is described as "eclectic".Nicolson, Mairi. (12 March 2024). 'Oud player Joseph Tawadros'. ABC Classic. According to Sydney Morning Herald, "He has taken the oud out of its traditional Middle Eastern setting and into the realm of classical music and jazz." Tawadros told Map Magazine, "I don't like to play in a particular genre, I love all sorts of music […] I try to record an album a year and one that's totally different from the previous album." He has collaborated with musicians such as John Abercrombie, Jack DeJohnette, Roy Ayers, Bela Fleck, Joey DeFrancesco, Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra,ACO: Four Seasons. 19 March 2023. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. and The Academy of Ancient Music.
Tawadros plays 52 instruments on his albums including oud, qanun, saz, violin, ney, Portuguese guitar, electric bass, kalimba and accordion. His brother James uses 11 percussion instruments.
Discography Albums + List of albums with selected details Title Details Storyteller Released: 2004 Label: Versilia (VACD 104.2) Format: CD Rouhani Released: 2005 Label: ABC Classics (4768078) Format: CD Visions Released: February 2006 Label: Joseph Tawadros (JT2005) Format: CD, DD Epiphany Released: March 2007 Label: Joseph Tawadros (JT2007) Format: CD, DD Live album Angel Released: December 2008 Label: Joseph Tawadros (JT2008) Format: CD, DD The Prophet Released: March 2009 Label: Joseph Tawadros (JT2009) Format: CD, DD Note: Poems selected from The Prophet written in 1923 by poet Kahlil Gibran The Hour of Separation Released: June 2010 Label: Joseph Tawadros Format: CD, DD Band of Brothers Released: March 2011 Label: ABC Classics (4764316) Format: CD, DD Concerto of the Greater Sea Released: February 2012 Label: Joseph Tawadros (JT2012) Format: CD, DD Chameleons of the White Shadow Released: February 2013 Label: ABC Classics (4810119) Format: CD, DD Permission to Evaporate Released: May 2014 Label: ABC Classics Format: CD, DD Truth Seekers Lovers and Warriors Released: April 2015 Label: ABC Classics (4811632) Format: CD, DD World Music Released: March 2016 Label: Joseph Tawadros Format: CD, DD Live at Abbey Road Released: July 2017 Label: Joseph Tawadros Format: CD, DD Live album Ali's Wedding Released: September 2017 Label: ABC Classics Format: CD, DD Soundtrack album The Bluebird, the Mystic and the Fool Released: April 2018 Label: Joseph Tawadros Format: CD, DD Betrayal of a Sacred Sunflower Released: June 2019 Label: Joseph Tawadros Format: CD, DD Live at the Sydney Opera House Released: 12 June 2020 Label: ABC Music Format: CD, DD, streaming Live album Hope in an Empty City Released: 9 June 2021 Label: ABC Music Format: CD, DD, streaming History Has a Heartbeat Released: 19 August 2022 Label: Joseph Tawadros Format: CD, DD, streaming Those Who Came Before Us Released: 14 July 2023 Label: Joseph Tawadros Format: CD, DD, streaming The Virtue of Signals Released: 28 June 2024 Label: Joseph Tawadros Format: CD, DD, streaming The Forgotten Path to Humanity Released: August 2025 Label: Joseph Tawadros Format: CD, DD, streaming Conversations With Jack Released: 31 July 2026 Label: Joseph Tawadros Format: CD, DD, streaming
Awards and recognition Order of Australia Tawadros was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2016 Australia Day Honours "for significant service to music as an accomplished oud performer, composer and recording artist".
Honorary doctorate In a graduation ceremony held at the University of New South Wales on 2 December 2025, hosted by Vice-Chancellor Dr David Gonski, Tawadros was awarded honoris causa a Doctorate of Music of the university, from which he had previously graduated BMus. As at December 2025, Tawadros is one of only four ever to receive the UNSW honorary DMus degree, the others being Irena Morozov, Simone Young and Richard Tognetti.'Honorary Degree and Fellowship holders'. unsw.edu.au official website - University of New South Wales.'Dr Joseph Tawadros Inspirational Speech to the UNSW Graduates'. youtube.com/@JTMusicOud Joseph Tawadros official channel. YouTube.
AIR Awards The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
! |- | 2014 |Permission to Evaporate | Best Independent Jazz Album Album
| 2018 | Live at Abbey Road | Best Independent Jazz Album Album
| 2020 |Betrayal of a Sacred Sunflower | Best Independent Classical Album
| 2021 | Live at the Sydney Opera House | Best Independent Classical Album or EP
| 2022 | Hope in an Empty City | Best Independent Jazz Album or EP
| rowspan="1"| 2026 | rowspan="1"| The Forgotten Path to Humanity | Best Independent Classical Album or EP
| rowspan="1"|
ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Tawadros has won seven awards from nineteen nominations.
| 2004 | Storyteller | Best World Music Album
| 2006 | Visions (with James Tawadros) | Best World Music Album
| 2007 | Epiphany | Best World Music Album
| 2008 | Angel | Best World Music Album
| rowspan="2"| 2010 | The Prophet | Best World Music Album
| The Hours of Separation | Best Jazz Album
| 2011 | Band of Brothers (with Slava & Leonard Grigoryan & James Tawadros) | Best World Music Album
| 2012 | Concerto of the Greater Sea | Best World Music Album
| 2013 | Chameleons of the White Shadow | Best World Music Album
| 2014 | Permission to Evaporate | Best World Music Album
| 2015 | Truth Seekers, Lovers and Warriors | Best World Music Album
| 2016 | World Music | Best World Music Album
| rowspan="2"| 2017 | Live at Abbey Road | Best World Music Album
| Ali's Wedding | Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album
| 2018 | The Bluebird, The Mystic and the Fool | Best World Music Album
| 2019 | Betrayal of a Sacred Sunflower | Best World Music Album
| 2020 | Live at the Sydney Opera House | Best World Music Album
| 2021 | Hope in an Empty City | Best World Music Album
| 2022 | History Has a Heartbeat | Best World Music Album
| 2023 | rowspan="1"| Those Who Came Before Us | Best World Music Album
| 2024 | The Virtue of Signals | Best World Music Album
| 2025 | The Forgotten Path to Humanity | Best World Music Album
See also Copts in Australia List of oud players
References
External links