Hi, I'm Sherif Abdalla, a dedicated drummer and music educator with a passion for jazz, fusion, latin, oriental, reggae, and Gnawa music. Music has played a big role in my life since early childhood, when my grandmother (a music teacher herself) taught me to play the piano. Later on, as a young teen, I had my first experience playing the drums and instantly became obsessed. Of course, my parents were reluctant to invest in a drum set to spontaneously, so after school I would sit in my room and imagine the drums around me, practicing for hours on my imaginary drum kit. I went on to play in several bands throughout my school career, and performed on several stages in Cairo and even Germany as a teenager.

In my early twenties I moved to Vienna and began studying music. In 2020 I graduated with distinction from the JAM Music Lab University in Vienna. Since arriving in Europe, I’ve been playing professionally in numerous projects of all styles, and slowly began blending my North-African and oriental roots with jazz influences. I've performed with many ensembles, composing original pieces, establishing bands of several genres, all of which has fuelled my artistic growth.

Since completing my degree in music, teaching has also become a passion of mine. Drawing from my experience and innovative teaching concepts, inspired by early experiences with my grandma and more recent guidance from my professors, I enjoy tailoring each lesson to my student's needs. My goal is to help them develop their skills with patience, creativity and effective communication, as well as inspire them to fall in love with the diligent work required to really master their skill.

Browse my current projects below, and feel free to reach out if you're interested in booking a performance or lessons.

My background