Prominent Utrechters talking about their favourite spot in the city. This month: musician (singer, composer, oud player) Nawras Altaky talking about the Utrechts Conservatorium and its garden.
So… the Conservatorium?
‘When I was in the asylum seekers’ centre, I used to walk past it and think: my dream is to be able to study here. In 2018, a few years after fleeing the war in Syria, I was admitted to the ‘Musician 3.0 for music performance artists’ programme. The Conservatorium felt like a safe second home, a place where I could finally thrive. I threw off my survival mode, and was finally able to think about a future. I spent a lot of time in the beautiful garden doing exactly this, sitting among the flowers and herbs reflecting on the question: where do I want to be five years from now?’
Best memory?
‘In 2025, I was the Utrecht composer laureate. Malgosia Fiebig, the carillonneur of the Dom Tower, asked me to compose a piece for the carillon: Compositie 466! It’s an ode to the city, named after the 465 steps to the top of the Dom Tower, except that I added one of my own. The melody was played 12 times a day from January to April of this year. I was so proud: wow, I wrote that! The well-balanced melody felt like gentle rain falling onto the city, and a hug or embrace for Utrecht.’
Biggest disappointment?
‘In my culture, it’s normal for the group to look after the individual. But here, individuals are expected to express their need for contact by sharing their feelings and ideas. I had to learn this, just like I had to learn the language. It took me some time, but I’ve now got lots of friends in Utrecht.’
Last performance?
‘It’s been a busy year. I’ve performed concerts with the Ricotti Ensemble, for example, a street symphony orchestra from Amsterdam. And I’ve been on tour with the Nawras Altaky Septet to promote my debut album Arise! Journey of resilience. It’s been nominated for an Edison! I’m currently involved in the Utrecht International Chamber Music Festival, which is taking place in December. I’ve been asked to compose two pieces and I’m curating it again too.’
Moved to tears?
‘During a day for the UNHCR in the Amsterdam Eye Film museum, I watched the documentary Allies in Exile by the Syrian filmmaker Hasan Kattan. It deserves a prize and should be shown in Utrecht. It was very disturbing, mainly because of footage of the bombing of Aleppo, which I would rather not have seen. Kattan recorded it while he was working there as a reporter. The scenes from the British asylum seekers’ centre, when he and his Syrian friends are waiting for their documents, are also very powerful. Their conversations really got to me; they exposed their vulnerability.’
Favourite restaurant?
‘That tends to change, but at the moment, I like going to Pitot on Vleutenseweg. It’s close to where I live. The food is mediterranean, but with a modern twist. What’s more, the drinks are great and they change the menu every three months. I recently had a delicious flatbread with feta, artichoke and za’atar herbs, which really reminded me of Syria .
I love eating out, partly because I’m a very fast eater. Eating with other people makes me eat more slowly.’
Inspirational Utrechter?
‘The Palestinian oud player Nizar Rohana, who lives in Lombok like me. He’s a close friend and we often drink coffee and eat together. But our music also makes us very close. Nazar helped me with my Master’s degree at the Conservatorium. And his style of playing – a technique based on the classical Egyptian school – has had a huge influence on me. I enjoy listening to his compositions, which are very rhythmic. My work is very different, and he’s quite critical. But all feedback is welcome.’
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Over dit artikel
text:
Sarah-Mie Luyckx
images:
Juri Hiensch
Publication date:
2 October 2026
Magazine edition:
UITagenda Utrecht oktober 2026
