BIOGRAPHY
Mourad Assouil, PhD in Musicology, is a conductor and pianist with an extensive background in both performance and academic study. Following his education, he started working with the Gomel Symphony Orchestra, becoming the youngest Principal Conductor of Belarus.
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Alongside this role, he also performed as a frequent guest conductor with the Belarusian State Academic Symphony Orchestra and the Musical Chapel & Orchestra ‘Sonorus’, among others.
Mourad Assouil produced more than 50 concerts, covering a broad repertoire of symphonic, opera, and ballet productions.
Starting from 2017, he has conducted symphonic and ballet performances across Europe.
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​In 2025, the Complutense University of Madrid conferred to Mourad Assouil the Official University Degree of Doctor.
Education
Mourad Assouil graduated with honours from the Belarusian State Academy of Music, where he earned degrees in classical piano under the tutelage of Prof. Liliya Ter-Minasyan and in symphonic conducting with Prof. Aleksandr Sosnovsky, a distinguished representative of Ilya Musin’s conducting school (St. Petersburg).
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Furthermore, he has participated in international masterclasses led by esteemed conductors such as Vladimir Ponkin (Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory) and Yuri Simonov (Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra).
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In 2021, Mourad Assouil successfully defended his doctoral thesis, ‘Central Asian and Andalusian Oriental Thematism in the Works of Belarusian Composers of the 20th Century.’ His research provides a detailed exploration of the intercultural dialogue between East and West, focusing on the connections between Belarusian academic art and Central Asian and Andalusian musical folklore. This involved carefully identifying archival records and carrying out comparative analyses with ethnographic sources.
Work as principal conductor
As Principal Conductor, Mourad Assouil took on a range of responsibilities, including curating the repertoire, planning the season, and coordinating schedules in line with the orchestra’s artistic direction. He led rehearsals and performances with careful attention to detail, aiming to maintain high musical standards.
He was also involved in the recruitment and evaluation of artistic staff, helping to create a supportive environment for artistic growth.
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A key part of his role was developing the orchestra’s artistic identity. He worked closely with regional, national, and cultural organisations to enhance the orchestra's presence and build meaningful partnerships. His contributions have helped shape the orchestra into what it is today.
Touring
Since 2017, Mourad Assouil has the privilege of conducting the Belarusian State Academic Symphony Orchestra and the Ballet of the Belarusian State Academic Musical Theater during their European symphonic and ballet tours across Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.
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Mourad Assouil applies his artistic vision to well-loved works such as Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker, as well as Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. He has also conducted performances of Adam’s romantic Giselle, and Minkus’ Don Quixote, known for its lively choreography.
Musicological Research
Mourad Assouil was a pioneer in examining unpublished Central Asian heritage of Belarusian composers, who skilfully incorporated authentic folkloric elements from Turkmen, Uzbek, Tajik, and Kyrgyz traditions into their works. He restored and premiered previously unknown symphonic compositions by Belarus’s first professional composers, Vasili Zolotarev and Nikolai Churkin.
Mourad Assouil’s research has now been integrated into the curriculum at the Belarusian State Academy of Music, where it features prominently in a range of courses, including the History of Piano Art, Pedagogy and Psychology of the Upper School, Theory of Musical Performance, and Belarusian Musical Literature.
In 2025, the Complutense University of Madrid approved the Declaration of Equivalence of the doctoral research of Mourad Assouil and resolved to confer upon him the Official University Degree of ‘Doctor of the Complutense University of Madrid.’
Teaching and Jury
Mourad Assouil is an educator with teaching roles in Conducting, Instrumentation, and Score Reading at various institutions, including the State Music Institute affiliated to the Belarusian State Academy of Music, the State Art College N.F. Sokolovsky in Gomel, and the Minsk State Music Institute named after M.I. Glinka. He was also invited to lecture on intercultural dialogue and musical folklore at higher education institutions across Belarus, such as the Belarusian State Academy of Music and the State University of Culture.
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In addition to his teaching, Mourad has been a regular jury member for both national and international competitions in Belarus. He has contributed to events such as the ‘International Competition for Young Pianists Paleski Agenchyk’ in Drogichin (2016 and 2018) and the National Artistic Competitions Gomel Fest and Peace Cup in Minsk (2019-2021).
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Mourad Assouil is also committed to supporting emerging musicians, having established a prize that offers competition winners the opportunity to perform with an orchestra under his direction, reflecting his dedication to
fostering new talents in music.
About Art and the Future
As a conductor, Mourad strives to go beyond the traditional boundaries of his role, which typically involves rehearsing and presenting a programme with his back to the audience.
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He feels a strong desire to foster a deeper connection with listeners by presenting music in an engaging and personal way, often sharing fascinating facts about composers and their works, which adds emotional depth to the music and reflects his refreshingly unconventional approach to audience engagement.
Ocassionaly, he invites the audience to close their eyes and imagine the stories behind the compositions, drawing them into an intimate space where music and imagination merge.
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His ultimate goal is to create a memorable and enriching experience for listeners - one that stays with them long after the final note has faded.
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Mourad Assouil hopes that this approach will inspire new generations of dedicated concertgoers, helping to preserve traditions and cultivate a lasting appreciation for the arts.
