Karim Nagi is a native Egyptian immigrant to the USA, and a true crossover artist uniting the Arab tradition with the global contemporary world. He has released fourteen CDs, ranging from traditional Arab music to fusion and electronica. He has authored instructional videos for Arab percussive instruments and Arab dance styles. As a dance and drum teacher, Nagi has taught in dozens of festivals in the United States, Asia, Europe and Cairo, as well as most major Arab Culture festivals in the USA. He is also a public speaker with a TEDx talk.
He taught at the New England Conservatory of Music for 5 years, and has lectured and presented at Harvard, MIT, Yale, Bowdoin, Princeton, Stanford, Berea, William & Mary, Georgetown, Virginia Tech, University of Chicago, University of Georgia, plus several Community Colleges. He has lectured internationally on Arts & Diversity at Kaoshiung (Taiwan) University, Beijing University, and University San Francisco de Quito Ecuador. Additionally, Karim Nagi's Arabiqa program has conducted over 500 school assemblies across America, exposing young audiences to Arab traditional arts.
His project Detour Guide incorporates English language storytelling with Arab music & rhythm, along with graphic & video art, to describe the experience of Arabs life & culture. Over the past 4 years Nagi has been the beneficiary of two Doris Duke Grant for the Islamic Arts through the Virginia Tech "Salaam" project and Young Audiences of New Jersey United We Create. He has also just been re-elected for a second term to the board of directors for Chamber Music America. In September he gave a TEDx Talk "The Tambourine, My Partner is Diplomacy & Disruption" which can be seen on the official TED website.
His most recent project involved the recording of his original compositions, using traditional instruments and top ensemble musicians. After decades of absorbing and enacting historic & heritage music, Nagi endeavors to participate in the continuum of his tradition wit new compositions. Two recordings feature his original works created within traditional forms. 2022's Huzam focussed on Arab art-music and classical forms, while 2023's Karama featured regional folklore and folk dance styles from around the Arab world.
nagikarim@aol.com