Zirak Hamad is a violinist and teacher who came to England in 2002 from Iraqi Kurdistan and is now based in Birmingham. A graduate from the institute of Fine Arts in Iraq, he has a wide range of artistic experience in his home country where he worked as a primary school teacher, festival organiser, broadcaster, television presenter and music critic.
Zirak took part in a Sound it Out community music training course in 2003, and has gone on to work as a freelance artist, mentor and trainer with Sound it Out Community Music, East Staffordshire Arts, Birmingham Music Services and Music for Change. He also runs a Kurdish music group, Daholl Kurdish Ensemble which has performed widely across the UK. He also initiated and musically directed a Kurdish multi-media production, The Smell of Apples which explored the genocide of Kurds in the city of Halabja.
In workshops, Zirak covers some basic aspects of Middle Eastern music and dance, including popular dance steps, rhythms and stylistic elements. Zirak relates the art forms to the Middle Eastern countries from which they originate (Iraq, Iran and Oman for example), and offers participants the opportunity to explore issues surrounding the Middle East, an area often misrepresented and misunderstood. We recommend projects rather than one –off bookings to address some of these deeper issues. Zirak also has a wealth of experience in delivering workshops related to the issues of migration, refugees, anti-bullying and anti racism work.
Zirak is available for performances with his group the Daholl Kurdish Ensemble.
