NDU Choir

The Notre Dame University Choir Louaizé was first formed in October of 93 under the direction of Reverend Fr. Khalil Rahme, a Mariamite monk, and with the encouragement and support of the Maronite Mariamite Order. The choir is formed of a number of professionals as well as students of the School of Music. The NDU Choir won the Gold Medal and the Audience’s First Prize - Adult Category - in the Third International Choirs Competition held in Laval, Quebec 2007.

Performances

Lebanon

• 1997: Beirut, Mass of the Holy Pope.
• 2000: Baalbek Festivals.
• 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2013: Al-Bustan Festival.
• 2008 & 2009: Grand Sérail, (M° Francesco Ciluffo).
• 2009: Beiteddine Festival.
• 2012: Beirut, Mass of the Holy Pope.

Italy

• 1999: The Pantheon & the International Loreto Festival.
• 2003, 2006 & 2007: Basilica San Pietro In Vincoli, Roma.
• 2006: Urbino, Bari, Consenza & Roma.
• 2008: Cathedral Santa Maria Maggiore.
• 2009: Castel Gandolfo.

France

• 1998: Lyon and Paris.
• 2001: Aix-en-Provence, Nice, Toulon, Marseille, Arles, Avignon, Gap, Nantes.
• 2003, 2005 & 2012: Lisieux
• 2008: Lourdes.

Jordan

• 1996: Frère de La Salle Amman.
• 2004: By invitation of Queen Nour, Amman.
• 2006: Jarash and Royal Cultural Center.

Syria

• 2003: Opera of Damas.

Dubai

• 2007: DIFC

USA

• 2007: Los Angeles, Detroit, Boston.
• 2010: Manhattan (Carnegie Hall), Broadway.

Canada

• 2007: Mondial Choral Loto-Québec

Australia

• 2008: Sidney.

Performed

• 1998: Socrates by Mansour Rahbany.
• 2000: Saul of Tarsus by Naji Hakim.
• 2000: Mouachahat by Marcel Khalifé.
• 2000: The Maronite Mass by Mansour Rahbany.
• 2000: Song of Songs by Zad Multaka.
• 2001: The Gospel of Saint John by Abed Azrieh.
• 2003: The Maronite Requiem by Mgr. François Eid.
• 2006: Opera Abu Hassan by Carl Maria Von Weber.
• 2007: Requiem Flamenco by Paco Peña.
• 2009: Missa In Tempore Belli (Paukenmass) by Joseph Haydn.
• 2009: Ahmad Al-Arabi by Marcel Khalife.
• 2010: Messa di Gloria by Giacomo Puccini.
• 2010: Vesperæ solennes de Confessore by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
• 2011: The Maronites and the Glory of Lebanon by Fr. Khalil Rahme.
• 2011: Fakhreddīn Athani Alkabīr by Iyad Kanaan.
• 2013: Messa di Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi.

Discography

• 2000: Majdan nuhdi
• 2002: The Maronite Requiem
• 2003: Concert of the inauguration of the Monastery of St. Anthony - Rome
• 2003: Ossa zghiri whobb kbir
• 2004: Jras lfarha
• 2004: Oratorio of Father Yacoub the Capucin
• 2005: Saint upon Saint
• 2006: Your prayer with us
• 2006: Ana Maakom
• 2007: Maryam fi masirat sha’bi llah
• 2011: The Maronites and the Glory of Lebanon
• 2011: Saint Paul, the Apostle of Nations
• 2013: The Holy Rosary

Our Members

Sopranos

Abdallah Joumana, Akiki Mira, Bitar Isabelle, Dagher Sabine, Dagher Stéphanie, El-Beaino Bouchra, El-Kik Olga, Hage Carla, Hnein Rébecca, Kallas Rouba, Khalil Vanessa, Maksoud Mary, Matar Marie-Josée, Mazraani Vanessa, Medawar Gladys, Ramia Eliane, Ramia Elise, Sfeir Joëlle, Torbey Tina

Altos

Abi-Aoun Raya, Chléla Carla, Chléla Maria, Daou Soha, El-Hage Yamane, Hage Dina, Hage Jana, Hajje José, Kahi Joanna, Kassis Marianne, Medawar Grace, Otayek Maya, Rizkallah Elari, Sarah Khalil, Sibrini Christelle

Tenors

Abou-Chabké Rawad, Houwayek Mario, Jabbour Joseph, Kadi Charbel, Mahfouz Jihad, Mattar Elie, Nakouzy Mario, Nasr Dominik, Possik Jalal, Zaher Ibrahim

Basses

Akiki Majd, Al-Rami Simon, Habchi Jad, Khalil Fadi, Nakouzy Fadi, Sfeir Toni, Sibrini Christophe, Sibrini Johnny, Zgheib Rami

Piano

Dolcy Lawoun

Vocal coach

Aida Tomb (Ronza)

Biography

Born in Bcharre, Lebanon in 1962. He was ordained priest of the Maronite Mariamite Order in 1987.

EDUCATION

The Pontifical University of “Laterano” in Rome, studied philosophy and theology.
Studied musical theory and notation, piano, classical and Gregorian singing, and earned degrees from the School of Music “T.L. La Victoria”, and from the conservatory “Santa Cecilia” in Rome.
Pursued studies in music composition for the organ with Maestro Valentino Miserachs.

Posts Held

• Founder and director of the School of Music at Notre Dame University-LouaizE which he established in 1992.
• Founder and director of the “Notre-Dame University Choir of Louaize” since 1993.
• Founder and director of the children’s choir at Notre-Dame of Louaize School.
• Founder and director of the occidental choir at the Lebanese Higher Conservatory of Music in 2003.
• Instructor of musical theory, notation, and choir singing at the Conservatory.
• Chaplain in the Sovereign Order of Malta since November 2011.

Activity

He wrote many religious chants and hymns for various occasions (the Nativity, the Passion and Resurrection, the Holy Virgin, the Saints, etc…), as well as a mass for children. He has written the music for the documentary “Close to Heaven”, he put the melodrama “l’Espoir” in music, he also wrote the music to the Oratorio of Father Yacoub the Kabbouchi, two theatre pieces for Deir El Kamar and the religious operas: “Ana Maakom”, “Mariamu fi masirati shaabi llah”, “The Oratorio of St. Paul, the Apostle of Nations”, a play for Fr. Genadios: “He Looked at Him and He Loved Him” and “The Maronites and the glory of Lebanon”. He recorded many CD’s with the NDU choir.

Biography

October 1994 marked the onset of a new era in Polyphonic chant in the Church of Lebanon when Fr. Khalil Rahmé founded the Children’s Choir at the Notre Dame de Louaize School, a year after the Notre Dame University-Louaize Choir for Adults was founded.
The nucleus of the Children’s Choir was then formed, comprising of the students of the School of Music at NDU, which Fr. Rahmé also established in 1992. Today, the Children’s Choir celebrates its 18th Anniversary.

Members

Andary Christy, Aoun Maria, Asmar Sarah, Bou-Gerges Joëlle, Chemaly Christa-Maria, Darwich Rogenia, Ghanime Gabrielle, Ghanime Lynne, Hage Christelle, Kassis Marise, Khalifé Jacinthe, Khalifé Justin, Khalil Pia, Khalil Gaëlle, Khalil Léabelle, Khalil Nasr, Khalil Sophie, Kordahi Elitta, Kordahi Marita, Lahoud Jano, Mazraani Clarissa, Mazraani Melissa, Reaidy Sibelle, Salameh Cindy, Salameh Lynn, Salameh Rhéa, Semaan Emanuel, Sibrini Christian, Sibrini Serge, Sibrini Stéphanie, Tamer Gabriel, Tamer Rafael

Our Concerts

Eighteen years ago, the choir performed its first Christmas Concert at the Patriarchal See before His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir and a host of bishops and clergymen. This exceptional start encouraged Fr. Rahmé to further develop the choir and enable its members to perform concerts along with the NDU Choir at local and international festivals and events.

In 2002, the Children’s Choir performed at the reception ceremony of the relics of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus.

Through weekly rehearsals, hard work, dedication, and passion, the Children’s Choir (whose members are aged between six and 17) was prepared to participate in the Al Bustan International Festival of Music and the Performing Arts (2007) and feature an exhilarating repertoire of international classics and Lebanese oriental styles of music. In 2008, the Children’s Choir also performed in the Christmas Concert at the presidential palace in the presence of the President of the Republic of Lebanon, His Excellency General Michel Sleiman and a host of Lebanese and foreign political and diplomatic figures.

The choir also performs several religious concerts for various religious occasions throughout the Liturgical Calendar such as Christmas, Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Resurrection. The choir also organizes an annual concert on the occasion of the end of the school year at the NDU School of Music.

Moreover, the angelic voices accompany the NDU Choir in most of its principal concerts. The children of yesterday are the adults of today who have fulfilled their dreams of becoming members of the NDU Choir.

Repertoire

The Choir has produced a number of CDs, the most important of which are: Ossa Zgheereh w Hob Kbeer (A Small Story and A Great Love); Jrass Il Farha (The Bells of Joy); Hymns for Saints, and shared recordings with the NDU Choir (The Maronites and the Glory of Lebanon, and Christmas Carols).

For any kind of reservation please contact:

Email: choir@ndu.edu.lb
Telephone: +961 9 218766/7/8 Ext: 164