is one of the rare continuators of the classical Arabic near-eastern musical tradition related to the modal system of maqâm, as a violinist and improviser as well as a composer carrying out in the style of the Nahda masters (Arabic renaissance of the 19th century), following an artistic approach deeply impregnated with Sufi spirituality. Initially, he was a doctor of medicine and a baroque and medieval musician. But in 1985, he gave up medicine and European music to dedicate himself to maqâm music, which he studied in Paris, initiated by Fawzi Sayeb. In 1993, he returns to Beirut where he revives the art of maqâm. His career leads him across the world to present maqâm concerts, solo, or with his ensemble (rebaptised " Ensemble of Classical Arab Music ") focusing on Nahda music or on his own compositions in the traditional continuity.
During the past years, he has fully established a contemporary art of the Sufi oratorio, a musical-poetic form focused on an ecumenical spirituality and a faithful respect for the maqâm musical tradition inherited from the Nahda (in both compositional and interpretative schemes): " Invocation of the Beloved " BLCD 1001, " Enamored of God " BLCD 1007, " Invocation of Laylâ " BLCD 1008, " Faithfuls of Love " BLCD 1011, " The Annunciation to Mary" BLCD 1013. These works were presented in international festivals and program schedules in the Arab world (Beiteddine, Cairo Opera...), in Europe (Ravenna Festival, Festival de l'Imaginaire at the Maison des Cultures du Monde in Paris, Ancient Music Festival in Utrecht, Berlin Traditional Music Festival...) and across the Atlantic (Georgetown University). The main part of these works has already been published as part of the Maqâm Collection.
Télérama and Le Monde de la Musique have regularly prized these CDs and the Avidi Lumi magazine of the Opera of Palermo has co-published with Byblos Records an anthology CD "The Sufi Oratorio According to Nidaa Abou Mrad " for its first issue in the year 2000. On the other hand, Nidaa Abou Mrad presides the Fondation pour la musique classique arabe (Foundation for Classical Arab Music). The Ensemble of Classical Arab Music and the Festival of Maqâm Music (Lebanon) have been organized within the framework of this foundation.