Karim Said - Pianist, Conductor & Composer
“Karim is a consummate musician, both humble and immensely great”
“What you cannot learn, he already knows”
Internationally acclaimed pianist, conductor and composer Karim Said has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious musical venues, including: La Scala; Philharmonie, Berlin; Musashino Concert Hall, Tokyo; the Great Hall of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory; Mozarteum Salzburg; Southbank Centre, London; and Carnegie Hall, New York, to name just a few.
Born in Amman in Jordan, Karim’s musical journey began at the age of five, when he discovered his love for the piano and classical music. At the age of ten, his talents were spotted by maestro Daniel Barenboim who became his mentor after hearing him perform.
“[T]he rich subtlety of Karim Said’s pianism”
“[A] born communicator”
Driven by his fascination with the sound of the orchestra and the creative process, Karim also ventured into conducting and composing at an early age, embracing a comprehensive artistic path. He was the subject of the BBC4/Allegro Films documentary Karim’s Journey, which followed his progress as a developing artist at the Purcell School of Music where he was awarded a full scholarship.
Karim gave one of his first major concerto performances with Barenboim at the Royal Albert Hall for BBC Proms in 2009, and that same year performed at the Barbican Centre under the baton of Sir Colin Davis.
Using his distinctive ability to connect with audiences through music, Said is known for pushing the boundaries of artistic expression and drawing links between different eras of Western classical music, as well as being inspired by his Middle Eastern roots. Karim has also toured regularly with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim.
Amidst the challenges of the global pandemic, Karim returned to his homeland and co-founded the Amman Chamber Orchestra as its first principal conductor. He has also been the principal conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of Lebanon since September 2025.
Amongst his recording releases, his 2018 album Legacy was described as ‘exceptionally thoughtful’ by the Guardian; the album draws connections between the works of composers like William Byrd, Brahms, Schoenberg and Webern.
His latest release in 2025 featuring Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto was recorded with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Domingo Hindoyan. It received glowing reviews:
Piano
Conducting
“For Said it is all about balancing dramatic intensity with graceful nobility, and, in the finale, youthful buoyancy with crystalline clarity. In its truthfulness and directness this album comes as a breath of fresh air.
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“Karim Said, an unfailingly intelligent and sensitive musician, here blends a classical feel with an appealing freshness.
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Comfortable as a soloist, a director-player and conductor, Said is an artist of limitless possibilities and deep artistic integrity.
Karim has been an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, London, since 2017.
LISTEN to his Radio 3 In Tune interview from 2025 about his Beethoven recording with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Domingo Hindoyan