Arabic | New York, NY
Zahra Alzubaidi is a New York-based singer who performs a variety of Arabic music styles, with a particular focus on Iraqi music. She has taken the stage at prestigious music venues across the United States, including Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carnegie Hall, Joe’s Pub, Roulette Intermedium, and the Miami BandShell, among others.
Born in Maysan, Southern Iraq, Zahra hails from a large family, and her earliest musical influences come from her hometown Chaabi wedding music, funeral recitations, and Hossat, which are popular songs meant to energize crowds. Her appreciation for Classical Arabic music developed through her older siblings and the Iraqi radio and television shows they enjoyed.
Zahra studied Maqam theory under the esteemed Simon Shaheen and learned to play the oud at Naseer Shamma’s Bayt El Oud program in Baghdad. She continues her education and research as a student of the Iraqi Maqam tradition and is a recipient of the NYSCA Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship for 2024 and 2025, under the mentorship of renowned Iraqi Maqam master Hamid Al-Saadi. Zahra honors Iraqi musical heritage by studying and preserving this rich tradition while also performing and collaborating with musicians from around the world.