Osama Badawe is a Syrian oud player currently based in Istanbul. After picking up his instrument at the age of seven, Osama went on to apprentice with master oud players in Aleppo, Syria. A regular performer in the concert halls and opera houses of his home city, Osama was was a music tutor and undergraduate student before being forced out by the ongoing Syrian civil war. Osama has since resettled in Turkey where he continues to perform with numerous ensembles and hone his craft. Currently Osama is collaborating on research exploring methods for using music to aid displaced Syrian children.