Ahmed Karam is a New York–based composer, conductor, and guitarist whose work boldly bridges the worlds of folk traditions and contemporary music. Having created and performed within a wide spectrum of local ensembles, Ahmed has written for everything from electronic dance music to rock bands to singer-songwriters, shaping a voice that is both versatile and deeply personal.
Most recently, he composed the score for the short film I Love Anna, directed by Alyssa Mullings, which premiered in October 2021 at the REEL Recovery Film Festival and Symposium, with screenings at Los Angeles’s Laemmle NoHo and New York’s Village East Cinema.
Ahmed will soon begin his master’s degree at the Peabody Conservatory, studying with Oscar Bettison on a full scholarship. He previously studied composition at The Juilliard School, earning a Certificate in Composition from the Evening Division, and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Saint Peter’s University.
His musical development has been enriched through studies at the Mostly Modern Festival, EAMA, HighScore, and LAFCI—along with what he jokingly (but fondly!) calls the ultimate education: his years working as a bartender in New York City’s nightlife.
