Hiba Al Kawas:

Hiba Al-Kawas was born in Saida, Lebanon on the 17^th of July 1972. She graduated from the Lebanese University with a degree in Experimental Sciences and a Bachelor Degree in Clinical Psychology.

She followed this with a Masters Degree in Operatic Chant with high distinction from the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory and a Master’s Degree in Music Composition and studies in Musicology. She has also prepared her final studies for a Diploma in Piano. She was awarded a special scholarship from the Academia di Chiggiana di Sienna in Italy where she did high studies in Opera Singing with the famous Tenor, Carlo Bergonzi and Composition with Maestro Franco Donatoni.

Mrs. Al Kawas is currently a member of the board at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory and a professor of Opera Chant, and Composition there. She is a Committee member of The Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra. She is also a professor at the Lebanese University and is the Academic & Music Coordinator at the Teachers’ Training College for Music in Beirut and a member of the High National Committee of Music at UNESCO, and a member of the National Committee of UNESCO for the Sciences, Education and Culture. Also she is a member of the Intellectual Property-International Chamber of Commerce.

Mrs. Al Kawas has recorded 21 works of her own composition with the Dnepropetrovsk Symphony Orchestra-Ukraine under the direction of Viascheslav Blenov. And 10 works with The Academy of Krakow Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Wojciech Czepiel. She has also recorded 13 works with The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine and the National Choir of Kiev conducted by Vladimir Sirenko.

Since her first concert at the age of six, Hiba has thrilled audiences in Lebanon, Syria, UAE, Cairo, Tunis, Bahrain, London, Paris, Italy, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Portugal, and Amsterdam  with many, many concert performances.

In the year 2000 she was chosen to participate as a composer by the Krakow Contemporary Composition Festival where the Krakow chamber Orchestra played her composition, Aspiration No.1 conducted by Wojceich Czepiel.

Her symphonic work, Pleusis No.1, a composition of three movements was dedicated to Mrs. Nazik Al Hariri, as a gesture of recognition for her support and patronage, it was played for the first time by the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Harout Fazelian.

Recently Mrs. Al Kawas was invited for the second time by the Polish composer’s association and Krakow Contemporary Composition Festival, where her latest composition “Moments in Krakow” was played as a “world premiere” by the Symphony Orchestra of Krakow Academy of Music conducted by Wojceich Czepiel.

Hiba Al Kawas has composed an Orchestral work, ”Baina Nahrain” upon the request of Al Jazeera TV on July 2004.

She performed at the opening ceremony of Tyr festival/Lebanon and Al-Medina Festival in Tunis.  Mrs. Al Kawas gave several lectures at the University of Amsterdam, as well as she was commissioned to compose a piece which has been played by New Ensemble at Gaudeamus music week whereas she has been selected among the top world composers.

In the Memory of the Lebanese Late P.M. Rafic El Hariri, Mrs. Al Kawas presented a work of her composition written for Voice, Choir and Symphony Orchestra, titled “Salam Al Hourriyyah” poetry by Nada El Hage, this composition was also produced as a musical Film by Milad Tawq.

Mrs. Al Kawas has composed for Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, String Orchestra, Various ensembles, Piano and Songs. In her compositions she gave a role to the traditional Arabic instruments to play as a part of the Symphony Orchestra.

Mrs. Al Kawas’ composition experience is combining the Oriental-Arabic music components with international composition techniques, bridging between Oriental-Arabic music, classical and neo classical form with contemporary music.

Hiba Al Kawas has established a career in Lebanon and the Arab world in bringing into existence the Arabic Opera. Her Practical work led her to the Arabic Operatic song, rather (Aria in Arabic), she accomplished the new Vocal procedure where she was able to find the proper position of the voice to hold the Arabic letter preserving the Arabic pronunciation and Arabic singing tradition. Using Operatic vocal techniques in an adapted way can allow the singer to use his/her voice as a supreme musical instrument.

On November 30, 2006, Hiba Al Kawas has performed along with Jose Carreras in Dubai at the 2^nd anniversary of the Dubai International financial Centre –DIFC- accompanied by the London Sinfonia Orchestra. Hiba has in addition to performing songs of her own musical composition, performed a duet with Jose Carreras “All I ask of You” taken from the Phantom of the Opera. Al Kawas musical composition “Pleusis 1” has been played by the London Sinfonia as well.

On Jan. 22^nd 2007 Hiba Al Kawas received the Decoration of HRH Sultan Qabous, The Golden Sultan Qabous Order for Culture, Science and Art. 

On Feb. 19^th Mrs. Al Kawas sang from her composition in the presence of President Jacque Chirac at IDMA in Paris, dedicating one of her composition songs to President Chirac and the Soul of P.M. Rafic Hariri. The song is 0 Liban soit sauvé! the poetry by Mrs. Nada El Hage.

On Sep. Mrs. Al Kawas Recorded two works of her composition with The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, conducted by Vladimir Sirenko.

On Oct. 14^th 2007, Mrs. Al Kawas  New creation "Rou'ia Fi Maa" was played at Opera National De Paris- Bastille, it was commissioned by ,Festival d'automne for contemporary music,  especially for the occasion. "Rou'ia Fi Maa" was performed by Neuwe Ensemble of Amsterdam and herself as a Soprano. This work is a contemporary composition that is devided in five music and three Singing Fragments that are based on Arabic poems by Nada El Hage.

On Nov. 2007 a musical short Movie "Noor" on Hiba Al Kawas new composition Asra Biqalbi was produced. A song based on a poem by H.E. Abdel Aziz Khoja. Asra Biqalbi and other works are composed to be a World Premiere at Abu Dhabi Music Festival.

Creating the Arabic Opera remains Hiba Al Kawas’s main dream.