Antonine University Choir
Choir Master: Fr. Toufic MAATOUK
The Choir of Antonine University belongs to the Higher Institute of Music at Antonine University. Being faithful to the monastic tradition of the Antonine Maronite Order, the choir has contributed since the eighties in cultural enrichment of the Lebanese musical life by its repertory focusing on the Antonine musical tradition.
Its repertory is also rich in classical and contemporary music. Antonine University Choir has performed in concerts and did tours in Rome, Milan, Nice, Lyon, Monaco, St. Etienne, Doha, Dubai Al Aïn United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Cyprus, etc… It has also participated in 8th Al Aïn Classical Music Festival in Don Giovanni-Mozart’s opera and Al Aïn 9th Classical Music Festival in Nozze di Figaro- Mozart’s opera and Al Bustan International Festival with the Teatro dell’opera di Roma in Barbiere di Sivglia production (Lebanon-2010), to be the first choir from the middle east participating as chorus with the Opera di Roma. For the summer 2010, the choir has appeared in Byblos international festival in Mozart’s Nozze di Figaro production (Lebanon-2010). The Choir participated in several orchestras such as the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra, the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera Romania timisora, New England symphonic ensemble, etc…
Numerous National and International Conductors lead this choir such as: Christophe SLOWINSKY, Francesco CILUFFO, Davide GRECENZI, Zbigniew GRAZCA, Paolo OLMI, Valentino MISERACHS, Walid GHOLMIEH, Harout FAZLIAN, Wojciech CZEPIEL, Rob VERMEULEN, Joanna NACHEF, Marco BERDONDINI.
The Choir performed in May 2010 at the legendary Carnegie Hall in New York.
Other credits of Antonine University Choir involve numerous recordings of Maronite religious tradition.