Karim Said is an award-winning pianist, conductor, and composer known for his expressive depth and distinctive artistic voice. Described by The Independent as a “born communicator,” he has been recognized since childhood for his rare ability to connect deeply with audiences. His early breakthrough came in 2009 with major concerto appearances at London’s Barbican Centre with the English Chamber Orchestra under Sir Colin Davis, and at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall with Daniel Barenboim—who, upon first hearing the ten-year-old Said, remarked: “what you cannot learn, he already knows.”
Karim has since performed at leading concert halls and festivals around the world, including the Philharmonie Berlin, Philharmonie de Paris, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the Great Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, the Musashino Concert Hall in Tokyo, and the Aldeburgh Festival in the UK. His affinity for the Second Viennese School inspired a major performance of Schoenberg’s complete solo piano works at London’s Southbank Centre as part of The Rest Is Noise festival.
Equally committed to his musical roots, Karim regularly performs in Jordan, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates, maintaining a strong artistic presence in the Middle East. His work bridges eras and traditions, a quality reflected in his critically praised album Legacy—described by The Guardian as “exceptionally thoughtful”—which traces connections between the music of William Byrd and Arnold Schoenberg. His discography also includes Echoes from an Empire (2015) and a 2024 release featuring works by Mozart, Schoenberg, Webern, and Beethoven.
Driven by a deep fascination with sound, structure, and artistic collaboration, Karim expanded his work into conducting and composing at an early age. He was featured in the BBC4/Allegro Films documentary Karim’s Journey, following his development at the Purcell School of Music, where he studied on full scholarship.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Karim founded the Amman Chamber Orchestra as its Principal Conductor and became Director of Music at the newly established Amman Institute of Performing Arts, initiatives of the Bank al Etihad Foundation. His mission is to build a thriving cultural environment in Jordan—one that celebrates both Western and Middle Eastern classical traditions.
Karim has been an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (London) since 2017.