By Alissar Izrafeel | Staff Writer
“Achievement doesn’t come without hard work, sacrifice, and time. Art is found in the minor details. Arabic music is the most beautiful music in the world. Believe in your power. Believe in each other. Appreciate the treasure you have in front of your hands – the Arabic Music!”
- Maestro Barkev Taslakian
I am honored to dedicate my article to the Fayha National Choir of Lebanon founded, mastered, directed, and conducted by the one and only Maestro Barkev Taslakian. Taslakian is a genius of music and a visionary who has successfully built an empire called the Fayha National Choir. The choir proudly reached an international level to represent Lebanon internationally in more than 40 festivals in 30+ countries around the world. Some of the choir’s secrets for a successful recipe are faith, hard work, vision, dedication, passion, and punctuality.
Fayha National Choir of Lebanon is a Lebanese Acapella choir that was established in 2003 in Tripoli, Lebanon. It is an internationally renowned choir for revolutionizing Arabic choral music. The choir celebrated its 21st birthday on January 11, 2024. Cheers to more years to come! Initially, the Fayha choir started in Tripoli, Lebanon and extended to the Beirut and Chouf regions. Three branches were established to allow people from different parts of Lebanon to join the choir. The choir is made up of a special and rare combination of people from different backgrounds, sects, and cities; from North to South and from Bekaa to Mount Lebanon.
**Music should be undivided, united!
I will use this opportunity to shed light on my personal experience with the choir that has become like a family to me. I witnessed for the first time the choir singing in Nejmeh Square, Downtown Beirut in 2015. It was a fascinating moment to listen to a new and developed style of Arabic music performed by the choir.
In 2015, I didn’t have the chance to join the choir. Fortunately enough, after 7 years, in 2022, I was beyond happy to receive an email from the American University of Beirut (AUB) to attend the Fayha choir’s auditions. The auditions took place in Auditorium B in West Hall on February 15, 2022. (Thank you AUB for hosting the choir’s rehearsals on campus!)
Without hesitation, I decided to attend the auditions on the assigned day and I was accepted into the team. Maestro Barkev Taslakian assigned me to the Alto section. Soon, I’ll celebrate my second anniversary. The choir was announced to be the first national choir of Lebanon in 2022. I managed my time between work and study to be able to attend every rehearsal across the year. I believed in Maestro’s vision, mission, and the concept of the A Capella of the choir, which is the only Arabic choir in the world to sing a repertoire of Arabic music without musical instruments.
Managed time, collaborative efforts, and positive energy are essentials for this project to survive. The choir has a long history of achievements in Lebanon and worldwide. Its repertoire is a rich and unique one aiming to revive classics in the region by offering new insights and interpretations that preserve the Arabic musical tradition in a fresh and developed way. The choir is the primary source for the Arabic choral arrangements due to its fascinating music archive.
Being part of the choir is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to join during my university years; it made my experience at AUB extra fascinating. I’m grateful to be both an AUB student and an Alto singer with the Fayha National Choir.
Additionally, the choir is not only about singing the correct tones. It is a lifestyle. It is a synchronization of mentalities and personalities. It is a diversified community made up of all sects and religions in Lebanon. It is a well-knit bond called family. It is a therapeutic place when life gets hard on our souls. It is a place to think, heal, reflect, and stand up stronger than before. It is a place to appreciate the presence of each other. It is a place to sacrifice for each other. It is a sacred place for me. It is a place where unity is far stronger than division. It is a beautiful place that we all want our Lebanon to turn out to be one day. United rather than divided!
The world needs to appreciate the Arabic culture, heritage, and language. It is important to showcase the positive work and local achievements through arts and culture. We must preserve our culture for generations to come. We, proudly, have a fascinating culture and a prestigious art to share with the world through the most beautiful music – Arabic Music in an A Cappella format! We should not give up on our identity and the country we belong to; Lebanon.
Thank you AUB for hosting the choir on campus. Thank you, Dr. Mona Hallak for your touch to revive Fayha’s Beirut Branch at AUB. Thank you, Maestro Barkev Taslakian, for your guidance and vision. Thank you Fayha National Choir of Lebanon.
Cheers to more years and achievements to come!
P.S. You are always welcome to join the Fayha National Choir of Lebanon and explore its magic.
🤍🤍
Amazing words!! Thank you fayhaa choir.. Thank you maestro barkev taslakian!❤️
Amazing Alissar❤️
This is so beautiful
Loved it
Keep Going My Girl😍😍😍
😍😍😍
👍👍
Love it ❤️
One big Family for all of us.❤️❤️❤️
Amazing
proud of you 💕
❤️🔥👌👏👏
Amazing ❤️❤️ keep it up 👏
😍😍😍😍😍
Interesting! 😍
PROUD 🙌🏼
True, fahyaa national choir is my destination when am lost ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼
🤍🤍🤍🤍
This is beyond any talent or achievement.. it is a national treasure that we all have to share, support and be part of..
we are all fayhaa choir..
absolutely the next exquisite level!
Proud of Lebanese/ Armenian art & culture for the whole world.. 🤍✨
😍😍
♥️♥️♥️
Proud of you sis ❤️🩹
❤️❤️❤️
♥️♥️♥️
I have a pin that I tend to wear on my clothes as it reflects my vision towards this unique world that’s called Fayha National Choir Of Lebanon, it says:
“Choir Is Calling, I Must Go.. Bye!”
amazing words
Wow it seems this is a true national treasure
Amazing Alisar keep up
Amazing ♥️
Amazing🤍
Amazing ♥️♥️
Literally incredible !
Good job. Keep it up
This is amazing ❤️❤️❤️
Amazing ❤️❤️❤️
I love you Allous and I am so proud of you. ❤️❤️❤️😘
رائعة ❤️❤️❤️❤️
“Fayha Choir’s performance is truly captivating, blending exquisite vocals with a rich musical arrangement. A harmonious masterpiece that resonates with passion and talent.”
A rich person talking about a rich experience about a rich art in the arabic culture. I am always proud of you Alissar.
Love thiss!
Thank you Alyssar for shedding the light about a Lebanese Choir that deserves to reach the stars!
Amazing 👌
Thank you for sharing your experience with the Fayha National Choir of Lebanon.
Can’t wait to read more of your work♥️
❤️❤️❤️
Hey beauty.
Your writing is engaging, seamless, and impossible to stop without finishing, which carries within its folds a deep love for this choir .
Your presence in it is a real asset to a positive and giving person.
Proud of you 🙏💕🌹
Beautifully written and your personal experience adds a nice angle to this article. We need to shed light on the beauties that come out of our country and remind everyone about the beauty of Arabic music, so thanks for doing that!
Awesome 👌
Just amazing 😍 , Keep it up Allous ❤️❤️
This is an enlightening, magnificently written piece, from the choir’s journey all the way to their dedicated pioneering of revolutionizing Arabic choral music.