Antonine University Choir
Lebanese Orchestra
Mira Akiki, Soprano
Grace Medawar, Mezzo-soprano
Cesar Naassy, Bass-baritone
Toufic Maatouk, Conductor

ANTONINE UNIVERSITY CHOIR
‍One of the leading choirs in Lebanon, Antonine University Choir was founded in Baabda-Lebanon 1978. It has contributed since the eighties in the cultural enrichment of the Lebanese musical life with its repertory.
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UA choir has performed in Rome, Milan, Nice, Lyon, Monaco, St. Étienne, Doha, Dubai, Al Aïn in United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Tbilisi, Paris, New york, Los Angeles, Muscat, Naples, Venice, Helsinki and Manhaus Brazil. It has participated in the Classical Music Festival of Al Ain(United Arab Emirates 2008-2009), Al Bustan International Festival (2009 to 2019), Byblos International Festival (2010-2011-2013-2014), Baalbeck International Festival (2011-2018-2020), Beirut Chants Festival-Lebanon (2008 to 2021), Ehdeniyat (2016), Tbilisi Opera Festival (2012), Festival d’Ile de France (2012-2013), and Bahrain International Music Festival (2013) Abu Dhabi Festival (2022). In May 2010, April 2013 and May 2015, the choir performed at the legendary Carnegie Hall in New York. It made its Los Angeles debut in April 2014, performing at the LA City Hall. In November 2016, the choir also made its debut at the San Carlo opera house. In addition, the choir has represented Lebanon in the opening of the Lebanese Pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale in May 2017. In October 2019, Antonine University Choir performed at the Manhaus Opera House in Brazil. In December 2022, the choir will perform Handel’s Messiah in Jordan with the Amman Chamber Orchestra.

Mira Akiki, Soprano

Mira Akiki, a Lebanese coloratura Soprano, with more than 10 years of professional experience, known for mastering Vocal and Acting techniques with high agility and delicacy. She discovered her passion for music when she was 5, every time she heard her father playing the piano. 

After joining the NDU choir at the age of 11, her piano teacher discovered her vocal power.

She joined the Lebanese Higher Conservatory of Music six years later, and graduated in Opera Singing in 2015 with honors, class of Fr. Toufic Maatouk.

She had the privilege to work with renowned international singers and vocal coaches namely Elizabeth Norberg Schulz, Cinzai Forte, Luciana D’Intino, Caterina Di Tonno, Simone Alaimo, Joyce El Khoury, Shady Torbey, Xenia Preisenberger and many others, and has collaborated with international directors as Marco Spada, Alessio Pizzech, Roberto Catalano, Mirana Naim, and Joseph Sassine.

Mira played many roles in different operas. She was Frasquitta in Carmen (2012), Marcellina in Mozart’s “Nozze di Figaro” (2013), Berta in Rossini’s “Barbiere di Siviglia” (2014 & 2017), Despina in Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte” (2015), Adina in Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’amore” (2016), Barbarina in “Nozze di Figaro” (2018).
Mira was spotted performing in different local and international festivals and events including Beirut Chants festival, Al Bustan festival, the Lebanese National Museum, Expo Milan, The Opera house of Muscat, Al Hussein Cultural Center in Jordan.
Mira enjoys ensemble works. She is currently member and soloist in the Antonine University Choir since 2016.

Her passion and knowledge led her not only to perform, but also to share her vocal experience with new talents. Her approach to teaching is drawing on a strong background in vocal pedagogy and deep knowledge of vocal system anatomy, and based on more than 10 years of experience in teaching and mentoring singers of all levels, ages and musical styles, and choirs.

In 2019, she launched her online classroom, offering customized courses and trainings in complete vocal techniques for singers from all over the world. 

Cesar Naassy – Baritone:

Known for his striking stage presence and warm cantabile voice, Cesar finds himself particularly well in the BelCanto repertoire. However, Cesar’s notable acting abilities and innate vocal agility, also allow him to bring complex characters to life, making him excep:onally stand out in the operas of Mozart. 

Cesar has set foot on the international stage as Raimondo in “Lucia di Lammermoor”, Dulcamara in “Elisir d’amore”, Don Alfonso in “Così fan tuNe”, Bartolo in “Le nozze di Figaro, Sarastro in “Die Zauberflöte”, The king of Scotland in “Ariodante” and Superintendant Bud in “Albert Herring” and many other roles… 

Since the start of his singing career, Cesar has performed in renowned international theatres around the world, such as “Teatro San Carlo” in Naples, “Teatro Flavio Vespasiano” in Rie:, “Auditorium della Concigliazione” in Rome, all the way to “Théatre de l’Opéra de Montreal” and “Théatre Monument National” in Montreal to name a few… 

Apart from Opera, Cesar also enjoys solo concerts and sacred music. He has performed Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle under the baton of Maestro Jean Sebastien Vallé in Montreal (2018), Mozart’s Requiem (2020), Great Mass in C Minor (2021), Bach’s Magnificat (2022), under maestro Toufic Maatouk, Händel’s Messiah with the Amman Chamber Orchestra in Jordan, under maestro Karim Saeed (2022), and has performed with maestro Paolo Olmi in Mozat’s Requiem with the Young Musicians European Orchestra (2023). 

Cesar is also scheduled to perform the wonderful Messa di Gloria by Puccini with the Beirut Chants Festival (2023). He will also appear as a guest soloist with the U.S.E.K. choir for their upcoming Christmas concert (2023), and as soloist with the Antonine University Choir in their upcoming performance of Händel’s Messiah (2023). Cesar has had the privilege to work with award winning directors such as Charles Binamé, and has studied with international artists such as, Elisabeth Norberg Schultz, Caterina Ditonno, Cinzia Forte, Roberto Frontali, BreN Polegato and Toufic Maatouk… He also holds two Masters Degrees, one in Musicology and the other in Opera Performance, graduating on top of his class from the prestigious McGill University in Montreal.

TOUFIC MAATOUK, CONDUCTOR
Toufic Maatouk, is one of the most compelling conductors of his generation. In the 2012 season, Maatouk began his tenure as Artistic Director of the Beirut Chants Festival in Lebanon. He is also Guest Conductor of the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra since 2013 and a Guest Conductor of the Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra Orchestra since 2017. Maatouk was appointed Artistic Director and Choir Master of the Antonine University Choir, in August 2005 and Head of the vocal department in the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music since October 2015. Maatouk has been Head of Academy of the Saudi Music Hubs in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) founded by the Saudi Ministry of culture and been selected as Academic Board member at the Global Leaders Program (USA). Lately, he was appointed Executive Manager for Programming at the Abu Dhabi Festival (UAE).
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He holds a Ph.D. in Musicology from the Istituto Pontificio di Musica Sacra (Pims) in Rome where he conducted and published different studies on the syro-maronite chants. As chief conductor, Toufic Maatouk has led the Antonine University choir for more than 18 years.

In 2020, Maatouk was knighted by the President of the Italian Republic as “Cavaliere dell’Ordine Della Stella d’Italia” and been nominated by the Peace and Prosperity Trust (UK) as Artistic adviser to the Trust.

He collaborated with several orchestras, festivals and theatres including Orchestra del Teatro di San Carlo (Napoli), Orchestra Giovanile Mediterranea (Palermo), Orchestra Roma Sinfonietta (Rome), New England symphonic ensemble (New York), Los Angeles Sinfonietta Orchestra (Los Angeles), Saint Petersburg Symphony Orchestra (Russia), Kiev Symphony Orchestra (Ukraine), Al-Bustan International Festival, Baalbeck International Festival, Byblos International Festival (Lebanon), Festival d’ile de France (Paris), Carnegie Hall (New York), Global Leaders Program (New York),Teatro dell’Opera di Roma (Roma), Teatro di San Carlo (Napoli), Académie de l’Opéra de Paris, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence (France), Romanian Radio (Bucharest), Al-Ain Music Festival (UEA), Bahrain International Music Festival (Bahrain).

He performed also with world-renowned artists such Maria Agresta, Jessica Pratt, Joyce El Khoury, Daniela Barcellona, Carmen Giannatasio, Laura Giordano, Maria Grazia Schiavo, Paolo Fanale, Giorgio Berrugi, Krzysztof Baczyk, Mirco Palazzi, Seong-Jin Cho, Dmitry Masleev, Jack Swanson, Anna Maria Labin, Eric Le Sage, Xavier De Maistres, Faycal Karaoui, Gabriele Ferro, Francesca Dego, Modigliani Quartet, Kodaly Quartet, Boris Andrianov, Alexander Ghindin, Caterina Di Tonno, Rosa Bove, Leonardo Cortellazzi and others.

He has been invited as a jury member to several prestigious competitions as the Ottavio Ziino International Liric Competition (Italy), Voce Verdiane International Competition (Italy) and the Biennale des Quatuors à cordes (Philharmonie de Paris).

He collaborates with many Orchestras such as Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra (Lebanon), Orchestra del Teatro di San Carlo (Italy), Orchestra Giovanile Mediterranea (Italy), Roma Sinfonietta (Italy), New England Symphonic Ensemble (USA), Los Angeles Sinfonietta Orchestra (USA), Saint Petersburg Symphony Orchestra (Russia), Kiev Symphony Orchestra (Ukranine), Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra (Bucharest).

Maatouk published his new book on the Syro-Maronite tradition with Geuthner’s edition in Paris. Different articles are published in international musicology journals and 13 CD on the Maronite tradition with the Antonine University chorus.
Lately, he has been Jury member at the 21st edition of the Ottavio Ziino International Competition in Italy (September 2022). Upcoming schedule includes  two  concerts with the Radio Romania Chamber Orchestra (March 2023).