Founded in 1978, the Antonine University (UA) Choir, Season XLI (41st), stands among the leading choral ensembles in Lebanon. Since the 1980s, it has played a key role in enriching the country’s musical landscape through a repertoire that spans major works of the choral tradition.
Over the years, the UA Choir has performed on renowned stages across the world, including in Rome, Milan, Nice, Lyon, Monaco, Saint-Étienne, Doha, Dubai, Al Ain, Amman, Manama, Nicosia, Tbilisi, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Muscat, Naples, Venice, and Helsinki.
The Choir has also taken part in prestigious festivals, both in Lebanon and internationally, including:
- Ehdeniyat – Lebanon, 2016
- Bahrain International Music Festival– Bahrain, 2013
- Festival d’Île-de-France– France, 2012, 2013
- Tbilisi Opera Festival– Georgia, 2012
- Baalbeck International Festival– Lebanon, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2025
- Byblos International Festival– Lebanon, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014
- Al Bustan International Festival– Lebanon, 2009–20
- Beirut Chants Festival – Lebanon, 2008–25
- Classical Music Festival of Al Ain– United Arab Emirates, 2008, 2009
The Choir has appeared on some of the world’s most distinguished stages. In May 2010, April 2013, and May 2015, it performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. In April 2014, it made its Los Angeles debut at Los Angeles City Hall. In November 2016, it performed for the first time at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples.
In May 2017, the UA Choir had the honor of representing Lebanon at the opening of the Lebanese Pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale. More recently, it performed at the Manaus Opera House in Brazil during the Coimbra Brazilian University Congress.
Artistic Directors
The artistic director oversees the Choir’s artistic vision and production, including repertoire selection, casting, and performance planning. Over the years, UA has collaborated with distinguished conductors who have each contributed to the Choir’s artistic growth:
- Joseph Waked, OAM (1978–97)
- Fady Tawk, OAM (1997–2003)
- Youssef Chedid, OAM (2003–05)
- Toufic Maatouk, OAM (2005–present)
Message of the Artistic Director
Choral singing continues to attract growing academic and scientific interest, as research highlights its many benefits. Beyond musical development, participation in a choir supports physiological well-being, enhances cognitive function, fosters social connection, and brings meaning and structure to everyday life.
Within this context, Antonine University (UA) remains deeply committed to supporting music and encouraging artistic expression. At the UA Choir, we believe in the transformative power of music.
Founded in 1978, the same year I was born, the Choir holds a personal significance that continues to inspire my commitment to its growth and evolution. Over the years, it has embraced diverse conductors, styles, and artistic directions, each contributing to its ongoing journey.
Now well into its fourth decade, I have had the privilege of working alongside dedicated rectors and talented Choir members who have enabled the realization of ambitious and widely recognized choral productions. This collective spirit is what makes the UA Choir truly distinctive.
We approach music with rigor and respect. Each work is performed in accordance with its artistic demands, whether in instrumentation or vocal interpretation, as a way of honoring the integrity of the composition.
This is the essence of the UA Choir: commitment, excellence, and above all, joy.
If you are a singer, we invite you to audition and join us.
If you are a music lover, we invite you to attend our concerts.
If you wish to support our mission, we welcome your contribution.
Toufic Maatouk, OAM