Wollongong Art Gallery in the city’s Arts Precinct, hub for art, culture and community, is a stunning building, not only housing an impressive array of Aboriginal, colonial and contemporary artworks, but also providing a reasonably sized theatre space  with exceptional acoustics, where musicians can perform for us at their best.

This was the venue on Wednesday night last, and the musician in question was Joseph Tawadros, classically trained Oud player extraordinaire and multiple Aria winner, accompanied by his brother James, virtuoso percussionist.

Occasionally in your life you will remember exactly where you were when you heard, or saw, or experienced a meaningful event for the very first time.

I’ve been a fan of the Tawadros brothers since hearing, quite by chance, a recording of their collaboration with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra back in 2019, broadcast by ABC Classic FM.

In those days I lived on Berry Mountain, and a tree had come down in a paddock on our property. Hubby and I were clearing debris, and to keep us on the task, we were listening to the radio. The live concert started.

I was immediately transfixed by this exotic Arabic music. The beat, the sensuality, the liveliness of it all was captivating.

Happily, the ABC recorded this entire concert, and it won an Aria for Best World Music Album in the following year.

Regrettably I had not  seen the Tawadros brothers perform live, and so the opportunity arose last Wednesday night. Wollongong happened to be part of their 2026 tour dates, performances stretching from Dungog , Adamstown,to playing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Myer music bowl, then Ballarat , Tasmania, and then back to Sydney. 

Seating wasn’t allocated, best to arrive early I thought.

Unfortunately, so did everyone else. 

Getting there half hour before the start, we only managed the third row, and by 7 pm, the room was packed, with lots of excited audience chatter and pre show manoeuvring.

At last, Joseph and brother James entered from the rear of the room, to welcoming applause.

What immediately struck me was their sartorial splendour. Joseph is not a shrinking violet in his mode of dress, as his twirled moustache,black Fez with gold trim, gold scarf and glittering, pink slip-on loafers would indicate. James was more sedate in collar and tie in muted tones, and on his head he wore a flat newsboy cap. 

How much more evocative than jeans and black T-shirts, and how much more colourful !

They carried their instruments as they entered, Joseph’s Oud, and James two percussion instruments , the Riq and the larger Bendir.

The Oud is an ancient middle eastern Lute-type instrument, pear shaped and fretless. Joseph’s is an Egyptian Oud, with of course some customised mother of pearl bling and an inbuilt pickup for versatility, for playing across genres such as jazz and classical. 

The Riq is a traditional middle eastern Tambourine, while the larger Bendir is a wooden frame drum. James is a virtuoso of both. 

They seat themselves on chairs on a raised platform under a circle of down lights, and the magic begins. 

The music is haunting, beautiful, and the audience is justifiably mesmerised. 

There are songs of healing, there are songs inspired by middle eastern poetry, there are songs of family, of work, of joy. Feverish pace , or calm, the effect on me is the same. Pure happiness.

I am close enough to see the expressions on their faces as Joseph and James play; eyes closed, sheer immersion in their craft. Both these men are masters of their instruments, and they both love what they do. It shows on their faces.

Interwoven between musical pieces is the “talking bit”, the natural humour and wit of Joseph as raconteur, while his brother James sits expressionless,silent, the perfect straight man. Joseph talks about migrating to Australia from Egypt as a two yr old, life for him and his family in Australia, how much he loves Egypt. And then he also talks about his experiences  both in real life , and online, as a target for racist comment.

Not funny at all. But he tells his story with humour and compassion. His message to us,to just be kind to one another, is delivered with such grace and good humour, we in the audience are all laughing. Life should not be so serious he says.

Too soon, the concert ends. It has been energising, and thoroughly enjoyable. We all leave with smiles.

Thank you Tawadros brothers, for sharing with us your skill, your mastery, your fabulous music, and your sense of fun.