Mohamed Najem

Palestinian clarinetist and composer Mohamed Najem is a musician deeply open to the world. Bridging East and West, he weaves a unique musical language that blends classical techniques with Arabic interpretation, creating a distinctive voice on both the clarinet and the ney.

His compositions, inspired by his grandfather’s stories about his hometown of Jaffa, tell a deeply personal story—a musical journey through past, present, and future. With rich, cross-cultural rhythms and sensitive melodies, Mohamed invites the audience on a poetic and meaningful voyage, accompanied by his quartet, which brings a touch of modern jazz to his musical universe.

Born in Jerusalem and raised in Bethlehem, Mohamed began his musical training at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music (ESNCM), where he studied clarinet and ney. In 2005, he was awarded first prize in Arabic music at the National Palestinian Music Competition. He then continued his studies in France at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional (CRR) in Angers. He was a soloist with the Palestine Youth Orchestra for several years.

From 2011 to 2014, Mohamed taught at the Edward Said Conservatory, working across its branches in Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Nablus. He is currently educational coordinator at the Philharmonie de Paris for the Démos project (Dispositif d’éducation musicale et orchestrale à vocation sociale), where he works to make music accessible to all children, regardless of background.

An artist engaged in many collaborations, he performs in traditional, popular, and classical ensembles on prestigious stages such as the Montreux Jazz Festival, La Défense Jazz Festival, Layali Birzeit, and the European Jazz Festival in Qatar.

In 2024, he released his second album, Jaffa Blossom, a vibrant tribute to his roots and musical journey, recorded with his quartet.