Rony Barrak
- Composer
- Music Department
Rony Barrak
Percussionist/Composer/Arranger/Musical director/Instructor
Rony Barrak is an Internationally renowned Lebanese versatile percussionist, composer, arranger, orchestrator, held his Darbouka (Middle Eastern drum) at the tender age of four and began playing it intuitively. Led by early self-confidence, he made his first TV performance at the age of seven and then proceeded to improve his skills through school and family performances. At the age of seventeen, Rony distinguished himself in the world of music by winning the Gold Medal in a competition on (LBCI) television for talented young musicians in Lebanon and the Middle East. This achievement encouraged him to unleash the Darbouka from the chains of its long-standing traditional context and explore its full potential. He moved to London in 1990 where he studied orchestral percussion and drum kit at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and later taught Middle Eastern Percussion for youth at Trinity College of Music.
Barrak has his own fusion style, blending eastern and western flavors.
Since 1999 Rony has produced 4 fusion albums "Aramba" "Karizma" "Darbouka City" "Cycle of Return" a colorful blend of East and west music, Including 3 Music videos that were Broadcasted on Lebanese Television stations including social media.
In addition to being the world's leading Darbouka player, he assembled his own unique percussion set, he also plays the piano and composes music for documentaries.
Since 2009, Rony's love for classical music propelled him to compose and premiered three symphonic pieces "Beirut Sensations" "Pheonicia" & "Boulder Sensations" in the US, Germany, Armenia and Lebanon, as well as other chamber orchestra music that was premiered at Al Bustan Festival in Lebanon 2016.
Same year he was also commissioned by ensemble mini orchestra in Berlin to orchestrate & perform "Romanian Folk Dances" by Béla Bartók (Bartok beyond borders) Rony has also achieved a unique breakthrough success as first Darbouka player to be involved since 2005 till 2019 as a soloist with Symphonic Game Music Concerts , one of the main leading symphonic video games projects in the world, performing music from Symphonic fantasies and Final Fantasies, He was also featured prominently in five video game music albums.
Barrak has performed & recorded over 20 world class orchestras such as, London Symphony Orchestra , London Philharmonic orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra , WDR Radio Orchestra, Bremer Philharmonic Orchestra , Camerata Salzburg , Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra among others.
As well as great artists such as Sarah Brightman, Fairuz, Al Di Meola, Arturo Sandoval, Hamilton De Hollanda, Richard Galliano, Dave Grusin , Vanessa Mae, Bond, Martin Grubinger among other.
Performed in very prestigious Concerts halls such as, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Concert Hall in UK. Philharmonie de Paris, Gewandhaus Leipzig, Kölner Philharmonie, Saal Pierre Boulez Berlin, Germany. Macky Auditorium, Boulder CO, USA. Vienna & Salzburg concert Hall , Austria. Sydney Opera House, Australia. Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Hall, Japan. Kremlin Palace Concert Hall, Moscow. Rudolfinum Concert Hall, Prague among many others.
As an instructor, has done various percussion master classes and workshops in Music colleges, Universities & Schools in Germany and the US.
Also Rony is a member of an international fusion Band "Morgenland All Star Band"
As well as his Trio Project in USA " The Trio 'N Five" with Vlad Girshevich (Piano & Keyboard , Uzbekistan), and Alex Nekrasov (Sax & Digital Bass, Russia) Rony makes regular appearances on television and radio shows in Lebanon and throughout the Middle East, including interviews and solo performances, consistently demonstrating a strong rapport with worldwide audiences.
As well as his Trio Project in USA " The Trio 'N Five" with Vlad Girshevich (Piano & Keyboard , Uzbekistan), and Alex Nekrasov (Sax & Digital Bass, Russia) Rony makes regular appearances on television and radio shows in Lebanon and throughout the Middle East, including interviews and solo performances, consistently demonstrating a strong rapport with worldwide audiences.