Biography

Elham Al Marzooqi is an Emirati cellist whose work bridges classical music, international cultural productions, and cross-cultural artistic collaboration. Recognized as the UAE's first professional Emirati female cellist, she has performed on some of the world's leading stages while representing the United Arab Emirates through music, cultural exchange, and artistic collaboration. Her career spans orchestral and chamber music, film and contemporary music, international cultural productions, and large-scale live events, reflecting a commitment to artistic excellence across a wide range of musical traditions and genres.

For four years, Elham was a member of the Firdaus Orchestra, the pioneering all-female ensemble founded under the artistic mentorship of A.R. Rahman. During this time, she participated in major international concert productions, recordings, and tours, collaborating with renowned artists and performing in landmark productions alongside global stars including Beyoncé. Her work with Firdaus Orchestra also included performances with A.R. Rahman at major international events, including the Ambani wedding celebrations in Mumbai.

Beyond her work with Firdaus Orchestra, Elham has performed with internationally recognised orchestras and ensembles including the Puccini Festival Orchestra, the China National Symphony Orchestra, the Beethoven Academy Orchestra, the Reina Sofía School of Music Orchestra, and the NSO Symphony Orchestra. Her performance highlights include appearances at Carnegie Hall in New York and Koerner Hall in Toronto, as well as collaborations with distinguished conductors, composers, and soloists including Andrea Bocelli, Tan Dun, Renaud Capuçon, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Jacopo Sipari di Pescasseroli, Jing Huan, and Anoushka Shankar.

As an Emirati musician, Elham has regularly represented the United Arab Emirates through music at international cultural and diplomatic engagements, including performances hosted by UAE embassies and cultural institutions abroad. Her work reflects a strong commitment to cultural exchange and the role of music in fostering dialogue between cultures and communities. She has also participated in Abu Dhabi Festival's Art @ Embassies initiative, using music as a platform for cultural connection and international engagement.

Elham has participated in innovative artistic projects ranging from film music and international recordings to the Middle East premiere of Keiichiro Shibuya's Scary Beauty, an AI-driven orchestral work featuring an android conductor.

In recognition of her artistic achievements, Elham was awarded the UAE Ministry of Culture National Grant and was named a recipient of the Filmfare Middle East Excellence in Music Award in 2024.

Elham is currently a participant in the UAE National Orchestra's Tashyeed programme, an advanced professional development initiative supporting the next generation of Emirati orchestral musicians.

Alongside her musical career, Elham is a qualified lawyer in England and Wales specialising in the entertainment and sports sectors.

Selected highlights

Major Venues and Festivals

Carnegie Hall, New York
Koerner Hall, Toronto
Dubai Opera
Etihad Arena
Abu Dhabi Festival

Recognition

UAE Ministry of Culture National Grant Recipient

Filmfare Middle East Excellence in Music Award (2024)

Artists, conductors and collaborators

Artists

A.R. Rahman
Andrea Bocelli
Beyoncé
Herbie Hancock
Anoushka Shankar
Lukas Graham
Stewart Copeland
Arqam Al Abri
Iyad Rimawi
Danny Aridi

Conductors, Composers & Musical Collaborators

Tan Dun
Renaud Capuçon
Jian Wang
Andrés Orozco-Estrada
Jacopo Sipari di Pescasseroli
Jing Huan
Diego Navarro
John Beasley
Keiichiro Shibuya
Leon Lacey
Suad Bushnaq

Selected projects and productions

A Journey to the New World – Carnegie Hall with the Reina Sofía School of Music Orchestra

Buddha Passion – Tan Dun’s internationally acclaimed multimedia oratorio

Symphony of Three: Peace, Love, Tolerance – Abu Dhabi Festival recording project

Disney’s The Lion King Live in Concert – Kraków Film Music Festival

International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert

Ambani Wedding Celebrations, Mumbai, with A.R. Rahman

Ponniyin Selvan: II – Feature film score recording with Firdaus Orchestra, composed by A.R. Rahman

Mountain Boy – Feature film score recording with Firdaus Orchestra, composed by Suad Bushnaq

International touring and recording projects with Firdaus Orchestra

Scary Beauty – Middle East premiere of Keiichiro Shibuya’s AI-driven orchestral work featuring an android conductor

Orchestras & institutions

China National Symphony Orchestra

Filarmonica del Teatro Comunale di Modena

Puccini Festival Orchestra

Reina Sofía School of Music Orchestra

Beethoven Academy Orchestra

Firdaus Orchestra

Orchestra Qawwali Project

NSO Symphony Orchestra

Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF)

Abu Dhabi Festival

Instrument

Elham performs on a Schnabl Stradivari model “Cristiani” 1700 op. 184/2018 cello.