Haroun Iqbal is Klarafestival's new composer in residence

Haroun Iqbal is one of the young generation of jazz guitarists exploring new horizons. His musical odyssey began in the jazz departments of the conservatories of Ghent, Antwerp and Tilburg, and since then has taken him to West Africa and Northern India. He travelled all the way to Delhi to attend a series of Indian classical music masterclasses with Raphaëlle Brochet, and an intensive mentor-student programme with sarod player Asad Qizilbash. There he was taught by Shubhendra Rao, a protégé of Ravi Shankar, and he fully immersed himself in Indian Raga and Tala. 

Captivated by the enormous freedom of West African griot music, Haroun also delved into this rich musical culture. Through guitarist Derek Gripper, he was introduced to the legendary kora player Bao Sissoko. This was an unforgettable encounter: ‘When Bao asked me to play something for him, I chose Bé Mankan, a traditional song from West African Mandé culture. To my surprise, Bao spontaneously started singing along, and confided in me that he had not played the piece since his youth. This magical moment led to weekly get-togethers, and after a few months we even created new music together.'

All these experiences and musical encounters enrich Haroun’s boundless sound world and provide inspiration for his own compositions, whether for his own jazz quartet Iqnovara, or for more classical works commissioned by ensembles such as the Amstel Quartet, harp duo Vireo, or vocal ensemble Dionysos Now! 

In his jazz quartet, Haroun also brings together various styles and sounds, alongside fellow musicians Joseph Nowell (piano), Zjef Van Steenbergen (bass) and Simon Raman (drums). Both their debut album Onderstroom from 2024 and their second record O Innocent Heart were nominated for De Keuze Van Klara [Klara’s Selection]. 

Since Haroun was hailed as one of the ten promising talents in the Klara Twintigers [Klara Twenty-somethings] series in 2025, momentum has continued to build for him. He is now the new artist-in-residence at the Handelsbeurs in Ghent – in this capacity he has already performed as the opening act for the Malian ngoni virtuoso Bassekou Kouyaté, and during Haroun & Helena’s Heartbreak Hotel he paid tribute to sentimental tunes, love ballads and jazz classics that explore the theme of heartbreak. He will be bringing this project to Klarafestival in the spring, but first there is his Klarafestival takes care of you residency. 

From 7 to 13 September, Haroun will temporarily take up residence at the Mettewie care home. There he will compose new work for a trio featuring trumpet player Birdsong and double bassist Yannick Peeters, which will be performed during a tour of various care homes in November 2026 and at Klarafestival 2027.

Haroun Iqbal © Hans Ott