Taalib-Din Ziyad
Taalib-Din Ziyad is a multifaceted vocalist, flutist, composer, arranger, and instructor. His journey in music began with vocal training as a teenager under the renowned Lina McLin, followed by classical training at the Chicago Music School/Roosevelt College with voice instructor Thelma Wade Brown. During his early teens, Taalib-Din showcased his talents in various recitals throughout Chicagoland and Indiana. After being drafted into the US Army, Taalib-Din continued to pursue his passion for music by performing in the 3rd Army Soldier Show, which toured the southeastern states, entertaining troops. In 1991, he became a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), where he performed as both a vocalist and flutist with Vandy Harris Front Burners. Over the years, Taalib-Din has shared the stage with numerous notable musicians, including Ari Brown, Phil Cohran, Ernest Dawkins, Adegoke Steve Colson, Jodie Christian, and many others. He is an active member of several ensembles, such as Renee Baker's Chicago Modern Orchestra Project (CMOP), the AACM Great Black Music Ensemble, the AACM Experimental Ensemble, and Art Turk Burton's Congo Square. Taalib-Din's performances have taken him to various prestigious venues around the world, including Paris, France; Poznan, Poland; the Umbria Jazz Festival; and the Frankfurt Jazz Festival in Frankfurt, Germany. In addition to his performance career, Taalib-Din has served as a school instructor, AACM Finance Officer, and Vice President from 2016-202
