Tarek Elazhary is a composer, educator and oud player. He graduated from the Arabic Oud House in Cairo, where he studied under Naseer Shamma. In 2014, Tarek began teaching at the same institution, later teaching at the Al-Darb Al-Ahmar Arts School and the German University in Cairo. In his work, he pushes the boundaries of oud toward new horizons by fusing classical traditions with innovation. This can be seen in his collaboration with British musician Tamsin Elliott, which explored connections between Egyptian and English folk music. Their debut album, So Far We Have Come, received wide acclaim, ranking among The Guardian’s top 10 folk albums of 2023. The album was nominated for Best Group at the 2024 Songlines Music Awards. Over the past decade, he has performed in Egypt, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Italy and the United Kingdom.