Jawqa presenting “Shu Hal Eyyam: A Tribute to Ziad Rahbani” at Fordson High School
Saturday, February 7, 2026
8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
RSVP Required

Join us on Saturday, February 7 at 8:00 p.m. at the Fordson High School Auditorium for Shoo Hal Eyyam: A Tribute to Ziad Rahbani, featuring JAWQA, the Arab American Community Choir. This special evening brings some of Rahbani’s most iconic works to life, reimagined through rich choral arrangements under the direction of world-renowned opera singer Lubana Al Quntar and accompanied by the NAO Takht Ensemble. The program celebrates Rahbani’s unmistakable voice, humor, and cultural impact—an artist whose music continues to inspire audiences across the Arab world and beyond.

JAWQA is one of Metro Detroit’s most vibrant vocal ensembles. Formed through a partnership between the Arab American National Museum and the National Arab Orchestra, JAWQA brings together singers from across the region to preserve and perform the musical traditions of the Arab world. Under Lubana Al Quntar’s artistic leadership, the choir reflects the power of community collaboration to preserve and celebrate a shared cultural heritage.

RSVP required. Please check back for registration link.

Bio:

Lubana Al Quntar is an internationally acclaimed Syrian soprano and Arabic classical singer, recognized as the first Syrian opera singer to perform on major international stages. Born in Damascus into a musical family related to legendary artists Asmahan and Farid Al Atrash, she was immersed in music from early childhood and developed a rare voice that bridges Western operatic technique and Arabic maqam traditions. She received advanced training at leading institutions including the Maastricht Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music in London, and the High Institute of Music in Damascus, studying with renowned opera masters and participating in masterclasses with Daniel Barenboim and Riccardo Muti. Lubana has performed over 270 concerts worldwide, appearing at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and London’s National Theatre. Her international honors include the Fifth Prize at the Queen Elizabeth International Singing Competition (Belgium) and top awards at the Belgrade International Singing Competition. A pioneer in music education, she founded the Department of Classical Arabic Singing at the High Institute of Music in Damascus—the first of its kind—and later served as Chair of the Opera Department. Her repertoire spans opera, Arabic classics, Syriac and Aramaic liturgical music, and Levantine folk traditions.

Now based in the United States, Lubana is a Visiting Artist at the Arab American National Museum, where she founded the first Arab American Choir. Her current projects include the Umm Kulthum Musical Tour and Two Millennia of Musical Kinship, tracing vocal heritage from ancient chant to contemporary opera