From the studio to the street, from Doha to the diaspora, music travels faster than language. This conversation gathers voices from Qatar and beyond to ask how sound shapes who we are as people, as cities, and as a global audience. Drawing on perspectives from industry, leadership, and the arts, we examine how music takes root, fosters community, and transcends borders.
Panellists: Ahmed Al-Baker, Dana Al Fardan, Dana Al Meer
Moderated by Sylvia M. Zakhary
Panellists: Ahmed Al-Baker, Dana Al Fardan, Dana Al Meer
Moderated by Sylvia M. Zakhary
Ahmed Al Baker is a Qatari filmmaker with over a decade of experience across film, television, and live events, rooted in thoughtful storytelling and a clear creative vision. He directed the Opening Ceremony of the first FIFA Arab Cup (2021); served as Creative Director for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022; and led ‘The Lost Chapter of Kelileh and Demneh’ for the AFC Asian Cup Opening Ceremony (2023). On screen, he was a showrunner and director on ‘The Pact’ (Roku) and ‘Medinah’ (Starzplay), and produced ‘Orca’ and the football docuseries ‘Chasing Dreams’. Today, he leads Katara Studios as CEO and Executive Producer, developing projects that bring regional stories to life and connect with audiences both at home and internationally.
Dana Al Fardan is a Qatari composer, songwriter and symphonic artist whose work bridges Arab heritage and Western contemporary classical music. As Qatar's first female contemporary composer to gain international recognition, she acts as a cultural ambassador, connecting audiences across cultures. Her musicals 'Broken Wings' (West End, 2018) and 'Rumi: The Musical' (London Coliseum, 2021) introduced Middle Eastern narratives to global stages. She also scores film, including 'Orca' and 'The Necromancer', and collaborates across genres. Her latest orchestral album, 'Tempest', inspired by Qatar's maritime and pearl-diving legacy, premiered with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra at Katara Opera House.
Dana Al Meer is a Qatari singer, composer, and cultural ambassador known for performing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup ceremonies. She is the director of Music Lab Qatar, an institute that promotes cultural education and nurtures young talent. In September 2025, she won third place at the Intervision Song Contest in Russia for her song ‘Huwa Dha Anta’.
Sylvia M. Zakhary is an award-winning filmmaker, creative director and entrepreneur. An Egyptian American who has lived in seven countries, she brings cultural insight to work across ‘Donald Glover Presents’, Disney+ ‘Black Is King’, Apple’s ‘Alicia Keys: Holiday Masquerade’, the BBC’s ‘Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II’, Hulu’s ‘Trap Jazz’ and ‘A Living Legacy: 80 Years of the United Nations’. Her projects have earned honours from the Emmys, NAACP, Grammys, Cannes Lions, Clios and D&AD, plus MTV VMA nominations. Founder of MAMAG (ADWEEK’s 4th Fastest-Growing US Agency), she also founded Storyhouse World in 2021, a global creative community of over 5,000 members across 50 nations, with partnerships spanning The Academy, the United Nations, and various governing bodies around the world.
Dana Al Fardan is a Qatari composer, songwriter and symphonic artist whose work bridges Arab heritage and Western contemporary classical music. As Qatar's first female contemporary composer to gain international recognition, she acts as a cultural ambassador, connecting audiences across cultures. Her musicals 'Broken Wings' (West End, 2018) and 'Rumi: The Musical' (London Coliseum, 2021) introduced Middle Eastern narratives to global stages. She also scores film, including 'Orca' and 'The Necromancer', and collaborates across genres. Her latest orchestral album, 'Tempest', inspired by Qatar's maritime and pearl-diving legacy, premiered with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra at Katara Opera House.
Dana Al Meer is a Qatari singer, composer, and cultural ambassador known for performing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup ceremonies. She is the director of Music Lab Qatar, an institute that promotes cultural education and nurtures young talent. In September 2025, she won third place at the Intervision Song Contest in Russia for her song ‘Huwa Dha Anta’.
Sylvia M. Zakhary is an award-winning filmmaker, creative director and entrepreneur. An Egyptian American who has lived in seven countries, she brings cultural insight to work across ‘Donald Glover Presents’, Disney+ ‘Black Is King’, Apple’s ‘Alicia Keys: Holiday Masquerade’, the BBC’s ‘Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II’, Hulu’s ‘Trap Jazz’ and ‘A Living Legacy: 80 Years of the United Nations’. Her projects have earned honours from the Emmys, NAACP, Grammys, Cannes Lions, Clios and D&AD, plus MTV VMA nominations. Founder of MAMAG (ADWEEK’s 4th Fastest-Growing US Agency), she also founded Storyhouse World in 2021, a global creative community of over 5,000 members across 50 nations, with partnerships spanning The Academy, the United Nations, and various governing bodies around the world.
