Ayrad explores myriad musical styles, shifting from Andalusian and Berber rhythms to reggae, raï and Latin grooves. Born in the age-old medina of Fes, Morocco’s cultural and spiritual capital, Hamza Abouabdelmajid settled in Quebec in 2005. Ayrad is the brainchild of composer / singer Hamza Abouabdelmajid and oboist Annick Beauvais. The collective – made up of six talented multi-instrumentalists who are past masters of world music cross-pollination – is distinguished by its moving poetry, its inspiring melodies and its improvisatory skills. In addition to its own compositions, the group breathes new life into pieces drawn from the Maghrebian, Arab-Andalusian and Moroccan-Jewish repertoires. Winners of the 2012-1013 Prix de la Diversité, Ayrad have performed at the Festival Orientalys, the Week-end des rythmes du monde, the Festival des traditions du monde, and the Rendez-vous de la chanson Québecor.