(b. 15 May 1972, Baghdad).

Iraqi composer, now resident in Jordan, of mostly orchestral and chamber works that have been performed in the Middle East; he is also active as a violinist and violist.

Mr. Sidiq is self-taught as a composer and violist. He studied violin at the Music and Ballet School in Baghdad from 1979–91 and there earned a diploma. In addition, he studied computer science at Al-Mansour Collective College in Baghdad, where he earned his BSc in 1996.

Among his honours are First Prize in a competition in Baghdad (1999, for The Determination of Steadfast People; 2001, for Country of Civilisations No. 1) and the Creativity Award from the Creativity Festival in Baghdad (2001, for The Determination of Steadfast People).

As a violinist, he performed in the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra from 1990–2002, where he served as leader of the second violins in 1999–2000. He founded the Dar al-Salaam Group for Music in 1998 and has served as its primary violinist since 1998.

As a violist, he has performed in the Orchestra of the National Conservatory of Music of the Noor al-Hussein Foundation in Amman since 2002.

He lectured at the Music and Ballet School in Baghdad in 1999–2000 and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Baghdad in 2000–01. He has lectured on music at Al-Mashriq Schools in Amman since 2003.

He is the brother of the composer Mohammed Uthman Sidiq.

SELECT LIST OF WORKS

ORCHESTRAL:

The Determination of Steadfast People, 1997

Concertino, qanun (zither from the Middle East), string orchestra, 1999

The Journey of the Creators (overture), 2000

Country of Civilisations No. 1, 2000

The Protectors of the Holy, 2001

The Big Determination, 2001

CHAMBER MUSIC:

The Little Butterfly, violin, piano, 1994 (also version for flute, clarinet, 2 violins, cello, 1998)

Happy Dreams, flute, clarinet, 2 violins, cello, 1999

Morning Breaths, flute, clarinet, 2 violins, cello, 2000

The Survivors, flute, clarinet, 2 violins, cello, 2000

Steppe Boy, violin, piano, 2001

The Ordeal, violin, piano, 2002

The Innocent People, oboe, piano, 2003

PIANO:

The Calamity, 2000