OUDLES OF JOY!

OUD-PLAYING sensation Essa Mubarak Al Najem has secured the coveted title of Young Musician of the Gulf 2011 ... and so impressed judges that they have urged him to bring the traditional Arabic sounds of Bahrain to a global audience.

The traditional rhythms rooted in Bahrain have secured success for a teenage oud-playing sensation who listened to the sounds of the instrument from the day he was born.

International judges were so impressed by musical protŽgŽ Essa Mubarak Al Najem that they have urged his family to encourage the schoolboy to tour the world with his music.

Essa, 16, a pupil at Bahrain Bayan School, strummed his way to success by winning the grand final of the Young Musician of the Gulf 2011 contest.

He wowed the 300-strong capacity audience at the Gulf Convention Centre at the Gulf Hotel on Thursday evening and also picked up the 'Plucked Strings' category as well as the title of 'most promising Bahrain-based musician'.

Essa, from Isa Town, said: 'Music is a big part of my life - I feel like I am married to music!'

He was one of six finalists competing for the coveted Young Musician of the Gulf title now in its 14th year from an entry of more than 120, presented by St Christopher's School and supported by Gulf Air.

He beat off stiff competition from singer Sophie McAdam and pianist Charles Barsaga from Dubai College, violinist Raoul D'Souza from St Christopher's School, pianist Jingwen Dai of British School, Al Khubairat, and pianist Charles Fernandes from British School Kuwait.

The preliminary rounds were played out at St Christopher's Senior and Junior schools, featuring solo instrumentalists, singers, chamber ensembles, madrigal groups, string quartets and brass quintets.

It was Essa's third bid for glory in the competition and his previous disappointments made him more determined to learn his craft and polish his musical talent.

His enthusiasm for the oud developed at a very early age and he recalls regularly waking up to the sounds of the traditional melodies played by his father, a celebrated musician in his own right, Brigadier Dr Mubarak Najem, currently director of the well-loved General Police Band.

Essa explained: 'I started playing the instrument when I was six and my parents gave me a small, specially-crafted oud. Since the day I was born I could hear the sound of the oud in the house as my father practised.'

His dad started teaching him how to play until work and study pressure proved too much. Essa then came under the tutelage of Saad Mahmood Jawad, also known as the 'oud knight' in the region after he won a top competition in Iraq.

Essa spent most of his free time in the family's music room practicing on his oud and has recently taken up the cello and started to compose his own music.

Elated dad, Dr Najem, said: 'I am very happy and proud of him. Essa is very dedicated to music. He studies and practises every day and he asks lots of questions.

'After last year he kept saying: 'I have to work very hard if I want to win the Young Musician of the Gulf'. And he did it!'

Essa's winning compositions were 'Bird Love' and 'Love & Loyalty' which his father explained were challenging pieces to play.

Dr Najem was also delighted by the reaction from the contest's panel of judges, namely UK-based Paul McGrath, Paul Harris and Helen Leek. He said: 'They told me that his talent and skills were beyond this competition and that he was really professional in his performance.

'They even asked me to arrange international tours for Essa so that the world could see how the oud is played.'

Essa's talents recently received television exposure after he entered the Middle East version of America's Got Talent - Al Fursa Talent Show on Sama Dubai - in which he secured fourth place.

Dr Najem's interest in music also developed at a very early age. His family was against him pursuing music but from the age of 11, with support from his elder brother Rashid, he pursued his love for the oud.

He said: 'During the old days it was very difficult to find a music teacher. I had to travel from Muharraq to Manama - sometimes a two-hour walk - for a lesson that was for just half-an-hour.'

In a move to encourage future generations of young musicians he founded the Bahrain Institute of Music in Mahouz. Dr Najem, who has been with the police for 28 years, joined the force as a musician after studying music in Egypt and England. His love of music holds no boundaries. Dr Najem is also the founder and chairman of the Indian Institute of Performing Arts in Umm al Hassam.

Essa's siblings are also talented musicians. His elder brother Salman, 18, plays the guitar, sister Dalal, 14, plays the piano and sings and brother Rashid, 12, plays the clarinet and piano.

Dr Najem said: 'I taught music to my children because I believe it is very important for their education. A piece of music is like taking on a challenge - in order to achieve it you have to put in the time and effort. After school the same can be applied to the workplace.'