Mohannad Nasser and Frederik Köster met for the first time in Beirut in 2017. During the Festival ‘Global Week for Syria’ the Morgenland All Star Band performed at the Al Madina Theatre in Beirut. The band spontaneously invited the Children’s Choir “Yalla! Pour les enfants” onto the stage to sing a piece with them. The choir of the Lebanese NGO unites Syrian children who have fled to Beirut; it was run by Mohannad Nasser. The Syrian Oud virtuoso later moved to Spain, where he studied at the Valencia Campus of the Berklee College of Music; he then settled in Berlin.

Frederik Köster is one of today’s most exciting young jazz trumpeters. He has performed all over the world with his own ensemble, as well as with Trilok Gurtu’s Quartet. He has been a regular guest at the Morgenland Festival Osnabrück since 2010 and is also a founding member of the Morgenland All Star Band.