Milad Khawam
Milad Khawam is a Berlin-based trumpet player, composer, and producer whose artistry is shaped by a rich Damascene, Assyrian, and Armenian heritage. A classically trained musician with comprehensive expertise in both the Western/Russian conservatory tradition and Eastern Arabic modal music (Maqam), his work serves as a sonic exploration of cultural identity. Grounded in these classical and Arabic traditions, his music evolves through crossover jazz and electronic elements to create a deeply emotive musical landscape.
Highlights
Over the years, Milad Khawam has built a body of work that moves between performance, composition, and cultural dialogue. His projects have received international recognition through festival awards, artistic commissions, and collaborations that highlight his unique voice as a musician and composer.
- Recipient of Ettijahat independent culture, Goethe-Institut, Musikfonds and the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung music program.
- Commissioned by the Pergamon Museum, Berlin, for a special composition for the Eagle Aquamanile of the Abbasid era.
- Featured performer at major European festivals and concert halls.
- Founder and artistic director of the Berlin-based FATAT Ensemble.
- Composer for internationally recognized documentary and film productions.
- Collaborated with acclaimed musicians across jazz, classical, and world music.
- Featured artist in international cross-cultural ensemble projects.
- Dedicated to connecting SWANA and European musical traditions through sound.
Born in Damascus during the Christmas week of 1992, Khawam’s formal journey began at the Solhi Al-Wadi Institute and later the Higher Institute of Music. This rigorous education developed him into a classically trained musician with comprehensive expertise in both the Western/Russian conservatory tradition and Eastern Arabic modal music (Maqam). He rose to prominence early, performing as principal trumpet with the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra and the National Orchestra of Arabic Music. After relocating to Berlin, he quickly became a vital voice in the city’s experimental and global jazz scenes.
His debut album, To The West (2020, XJAZZ Music), was a critical milestone supported by the Goethe-Institut, leading to high-profile interpretations of his work at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW). He followed this in 2023 with Funeral on the Moon, an experimental-electronic jazz record that further cemented his reputation for an unconventional approach to the trumpet.
Khawam’s versatility as a soloist has seen him share the stage with legendary drummer Billy Cobham as part of the Jazzaar Global Ensemble and perform at major European festivals including XJAZZ, Fusion, and CTM. His orchestral reach continues as a soloist with the Syrian Expat Philharmonic Orchestra, performing at prestigious venues such as the Berliner Philharmoniker. He is also the founder of the FATAT band, a Berlin-based ensemble where trumpet leads over punchy Arabic percussion and bittersweet lyrics to create a danceable yet deeply emotive experience.
In addition to his performance career, Khawam is an accomplished film composer. He composed the original soundtrack for the film Father’s Footsteps (2022) by Mohamad W. Ali, and his work for the short film No Monsters in Berlin contributed to its Grand Jury Prize win at the Cannes Film Festival (Diversity category) in 2017. He also operates Forest Whistle, a Berlin-based studio where he produces, mixes, and masters diverse projects. Through his solo work and collaborative ensembles, Khawam continues to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western musical languages.