Place of birth
Syria
My story
I am Nader Issa, a saxophonist. I was born in 1974, am of Palestinian descent, and grew up in Syria. I started playing the saxophone in 1990, while still a student. Before that, I played percussion (snare drum) and also learned wind instruments like trumpet and trombone. But the saxophone stole my heart. I played at a wide variety of events and in diverse ensembles. In Syria, for example, I worked with composer Iyad Rimawi in the band Kulna Sawa, singer Rasha Rizk, and pianist/arranger Tarek Skeikerr. I have lived in the Netherlands for ten years, where I now also have Dutch citizenship. My musical career in the Netherlands received a major boost when I played in Claudia de Breij's New Year's Eve concert in 2016–2017. Then, in 2019, a friend brought me along to a CCO rehearsal. I played some improvisations, and we clicked right away. I've been part of the group ever since.
Instrument
Soprano, alto & tenor sax
