Rahim Alhaj is an Iraqi composer and oud musician. His 2009 album, "Iraqi Sounds," featured traditional Iraqi music. He is best known for fusing various elements of Iraqi music, such as maqam music and traditional Arabic instruments, with the sounds of Jazz, Flamenco, Classical Music, and Andalusian music. Since 2000, he has collaborated with numerous writers and other musicians. He has toured the US and Europe, performing concerts in support of his albums. In 2000, Alhaj was granted an honorary doctorate from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He has received numerous awards for his contribution to the development of Iraqi culture, including the National Endowment for the Arts 2017 National Heritage Fellowship.