Narjes began her artistic career at age three, quickly becoming a stage star in nursery performances. Guided and vocally coached by her father, respected music professor Ali Abouda, she received early training in vocalise and the Arabic instrument, the oud.

She rose to prominence in the Choir of Radio Sfax, where she recorded over 100 children’s songs and performed nationally for 15 years, establishing her extensive background in Arabic choral work. Her formal studies at the Conservatoire of Sfax focused on traditional Arabic and Tunisian forms (such as maqamat, muwashahat, and Malouf), which she further honed performing across Tunisia with the Nadi Al Assil ensemble.

Expanding her versatility, Narjes explored jazz and fusion in Arabic and French, earning multiple awards before returning to the stage internationally with Cambridge Takht in the UK. She believes music is the "food of the soul," making every performance an act of connection and nourishment. Outside of music, Narjes works as a Principal Application Engineer, solving complex challenges with the same passion she brings to her art

Mohamed, also known as Mido,  is the founder and band leader of Cambridge Takht. His musical journey began in childhood trying different instrument, but he specifically chose the Violin at the age of 13 after being captivated by its sound in Tarab (classical Arabic) music. Possessing a natural gift, he quickly began playing his favorite melodies by ear. He subsequently deepened his skills through classical and jazz lessons and, critically, refined his Arabic violin technique through mentorship with Egyptian violinist Amin Abdulazeem. Furthermore, he attended several workshops led by Grammy Award winner Fathy Salama, where he gained expertise in band arrangement and leadership.

While living in Cairo, he was active in the independent music scene in Cairo, he played with several groups, most notably recording the debut album for Youssra El Hawary and touring internationally with her. Now based in Cambridge, Mohamed founded Cambridge Takht to pursue his mission: sharing the richness of Arabic music with a wider audience. He actively engages the local community through workshops, concerts, and collaborations with diverse local bands.

Outside of his music life, Mohamed works as an Embedded Software Engineer developing wireless solutions and enjoys spending time with his family and two children.

Mohamed Nour Abouelseoud’s string story began in Abu Dhabi at 14, when a guitar first opened the door to a lifelong pursuit of melody and rhythm. He now performs on the oud, having deepened his engagement with Arabic music while studying in Sharjah — where he completed a minor in Music alongside his bachelor — and has appeared with Egyptian, Palestinian, and Syrian bands as well as his university’s Arabic music ensemble.

By day he works in machine learning and AI research, bringing the same curiosity and precision to his professional work as he does to performance. Offstage he enjoys reading and writing, interests that inform the reflective, narrative quality of his playing.

Aida  first picked up the double bass as a child in a small Andalusian town, stumbling upon the instrument quite by accident — and instantly falling for its deep, earthy voice. Ever since, she’s been travelling the world with her oversized companion. She brings a rich blend of musical and orchestral experience, performing in productions for Disney and Nintendo and on renowned stages such as Taiwan, Singapore and Spain’s national concert halls. Versatile across musical styles, she now plays actively with several Cambridge ensembles.

When she’s not making music, Aida can be found unravelling the basis behind complex systems through technology. She holds a PhD in computational medical genetics and is involved in biotech entrepreneurship. Above all, she loves having a good time — so don’t be surprised if you spot her at a random street party, nerding around or who knows!

Omar's percussion story began in Hama, Syria, when he received his first instrument at age 10 - a much-needed gift from his parents after years of tapping on tables, pots, and, on desperate occasions, his own belly when nothing else was available. Rhythm was simply unavoidable. Since then, he has studied multiple instruments, sharpened his craft, and performed with a wide range of bands and orchestras in both Syria and the UK, bringing a dynamic, soulful groove to every stage he touches.

Outside the spotlight, Omar is a devoted pharmacist and health economist - proudly fueled by data and spreadsheets. And when he isn't solving health challenges or captivating crowds, you'll find him racking up kilometers on his humble triathlon journey, smiling every time Strava sends him a kudos (which, let's be honest, is half the motivation)

Hanna
first started learning the Tabla in Lebanon at the age of 6-7 after a very musical and exciting bus ride. The Tabla is the main percussion instrument in Arabic music and is known to cause uncontrollable hip movements among Arabs.

 Hanna has been a key member of Cambridge Takht for the last 4 years. When Hanna is not administering shakhla3a on his tabla with Cambridge Takht, he can usually be found on an old sailboat in the Mediterranean or making Koussa Mi7shi and Mlokhiyya. Hanna is a world leading expert on extreme remote working, known for hoisting his phone in a bag to the top of the mast to continue sending his emails.

Bariam Al Tunsi