Antonine University (UA) awarded the Golden Feather to Her Excellency Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), as well as Founder and Artistic Director of the Abu Dhabi Festival, in recognition of her eminent contribution to the fields of culture and the arts, during a ceremony held at the University’s Hadat–Baabda Campus.

The event was attended by Lebanese and international dignitaries, including Deputy Speaker of Parliament, H.E. Elias Bou Saab; Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Lebanon, H.E. Fahad Salem Saeed AlKaabi; Head of the Lebanese–Emirati Parliamentary Friendship Committee, MP Fouad Makhzoumi; Superior General of the Antonine Maronite Order and Chancellor of Antonine University, Abbot Joseph Bou Raad; and Rector of Antonine University, Fr. Michel Saghbiny; alongside Ms. Mona Hraoui, Her Highness Princess Hayat Arslan, and prominent political, cultural, and social figures.

Following the presentation of the Golden Feather, H.E. Alkhamis-Kanoo delivered a heartfelt address, expressing her appreciation for the honor. She described the award as one she receives “with deep gratitude and utmost humility, filled with a profound sense of the duty and responsibility it carries, and with sincere appreciation.”

H.E. continued: “I return to Lebanon after decades, standing at Antonine University and witnessing its renaissance, repaying part of its kindness. It is a homeland that embraced my childhood and my dreams, and from its beloved capital, Beirut, my story began. I recall all that Beirut gave me: my first music concert, my passion for our mother tongue and Arabic literature, my early education under the Jesuits, and the home in which I was raised on the values of tolerance and the belief that living together is far more than a mere idea; it is a lived experience and an ongoing pursuit of dialogue, understanding, openness, and peace.”

She concluded: “In Beirut, I came to understand that culture and identity must be nurtured, not erased, and that every difference carries a story worthy of being told and celebrated. It was with this conviction that I founded the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and the Abu Dhabi Festival. To receive this honor from Antonine University, which houses one of the most distinguished music departments in the region, means a great deal to me. It is an academic institution with which I share the belief that music is the language of the soul, the essence of existence, and an eternal melody of immortality.”

In his address, Fr. Michel Saghbiny, UA Rector, stated that “the ceremony was not merely an act of recognition, but a celebration of a message that transcends borders—one that affirms that art is not a luxury, and that culture remains the strongest bridge between peoples when politics fall short, and the one language that needs no translation when words fail.”

Reflecting on H.E. Alkhamis-Kanoo’s journey, he described her as “an exceptional pioneer who transformed vision into global impact, positioning the Abu Dhabi Festival and ADMAF as international beacons.” Her work, he noted, has demonstrated that Arab determination is fully capable of embracing the finest classical and global artistic traditions while remaining deeply rooted in cultural authenticity.

Fr. Saghbiny emphasized that Her Excellency’s path embodies the core values of Antonine University—excellence, openness, and service. He noted that honoring her in Lebanon, at this particular moment, reaffirms the country’s enduring role as the cultural heart of the region, a place that continues to recognize beauty, leadership, and creativity despite its challenges. He concluded by stressing that this recognition serves as an invitation to students and youth to understand that true success lies in leaving a meaningful impact on the lives of others, and that soft power is the force that drives lasting and genuine change.

The ceremony concluded with a musical program performed by the Antonine University Choir under the direction of Maestro Toufic Maatouk, OAM, conceived as a musical statement of the Choir’s identity—bringing together sacred tradition, operatic expression, and the grandeur of the oratorio to reflect a shared journey of faith, culture, and artistic excellence at the heart of this celebration.