On November 12, 2026, the Kurdistan String Quintet will perform at the Kurdish Studies Forum at 5:30 PM in the AUIS Conference Hall.

The Kurdistan String Quintet was established in 2010 and has performed more than 20 concerts as a quartet and quintet. Its repertoire includes both Kurdish compositions and works from the international classical repertoire. The ensemble has also performed at numerous concerts outside Kurdistan, presenting works by internationally renowned composers from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern periods, who composed for string quartets.

Ako Aziz is a musician, composer, educator, and orchestra leader. He has been an active member of the Sulaimani Symphony Orchestra and the leader of the Kurdistan String Quartet since 2010. He is the founder of the Sulaimani Youth Orchestra and its Music School, dedicated to young musical talent and music education in Kurdistan. 

Rezhwan Ahmed is a violist, pianist, and music educator. She graduated from the University of Sulaimani’s Fine Arts Music Department, she has served as viola section leader for both the Sulaimani Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq. Her performances in international concerts and festivals across Austria, Germany, France, the UK, and Bulgaria, has led to ensembles like the Kizhan Group and the Kurdistan String Quintet. 

Shilan Omar is a cellist, music educator, and performing artist. She studied music at the Institute of Fine Arts in Sulaimani and has been active in orchestral performance and music education. She has performed with orchestras, including the Sulaimani University Orchestra, National String Orchestra, Sulaimani String Orchestra, and Kurdish String Orchestra. Her artistic practice also includes collaborations with musicians and participation in concerts, festivals, and interdisciplinary performances in Kurdistan and abroad.

Zana Jalal is a music educator and a violinist in orchestral and ensemble performance. He joined the Sulaymaniyah Orchestra in 2003 and has since performed in concerts, workshops, recordings, and cultural programs in Kurdistan, Iraq and internationally, including in Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, and France. He has studied Music in Saint Louis University, Missouri, and has served as a concertmaster and has performed as a violin soloist, as well as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq and the Kurdistan String Quintet. He teaches music at the Institute of Fine Arts in Sulaimani.

Sherko M.Salih is a violinist, music educator, university lecturer, conductor, and ensemble musician. Since 2013, he has been a lecturer in the Music Department at the College of Fine Arts, University of Sulaimani, and previously served as Head of the Music Department and lecturer at the Institute of Fine Arts. He studied at Dr. Hoch’s Konservatorium in Frankfurt and the Peter Cornelius Konservatorium in Mainz, Germany.