Qatar national anthem composer Al Obaidan dies

Doha: Legendary Qatari composer and musician Abdulaziz Nasser Al Obaidan (pictured) died yesterday, at the age of 64, after a courageous battle with illness.

Al Obaidan was the composer of the national anthem of Qatar.

In 1966, when he was 14, Al Obaidan founded Al Adwa 'lights” band as the first troupe of the theatre and music with a group of gifted youth in Doha. He played a remarkable role in the establishment of music and singing monitoring section at Qatar Radio in 1968. Al Obaidan graduated from the Higher Institute for Arab Music in Cairo with honours in 1977. From 1980, he served as comptroller-general of music and singing for the General Authority for Radio and Television.

He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Academy of Music in Qatar and represented the country as a member on the Executive Council of the Arab Society of Music. A collection of his lyrical and music albums was recorded and published.

He was awarded several prizes, including the Golden Opera Prize in special Oscars for opera and classical singing ceremony in Doha in 2014.

QNA