Founded in 2015, the USJ Choir assembles today over fifty singers of different ages, professions and backgrounds. In collaboration with members of the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the Jeunesses Musicales du Liban Orchestra, the choir has covered a large and varied repertoire ranging from Baroque music to Contemporary music. It is in the choir’s mission to introduce well known masterpieces, as well as obscure works to the public. The USJ Choir aims to contribute in raising Lebanese choral music to international standards and to keep spreading the joy of singing.
Yasmina Sabbah holds a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from the prestigious University of Cambridge, UK. She is one of the few active women conductors in Lebanon, and currently leads the USJ choir, the Conservatory Youth Choir and Children Choir. She is also a professor of music at AUB and LAU. Yasmina Sabbah has received several awards such as the Patron’s Award in ChoirFest Dubai (2015), the Philippe Jaber Merit Award (2012), the Rosemary Salhaney Haggar Choral Award (2010), and the Choral Leadership Award (2009). Her aim is to earn a Ph. D and contribute to spreading choral music in Lebanon and the region as well as improving music education in schools and universities. Young, passionate and motivated, it is in her mission to break stereotypes in Lebanon and assert herself as a woman in positions of leadership.
I. German Baroque Sacred Choral Music
Erfreue dich, Erde Dietrich Buxtehude (1637 – 1707)
Nadine Nassar, Soprano
Georges Nehme, Countertenor
Bassam Abboud, Bass
Alleluja! Freuet euch ihr Christen alle Andreas Hammerschmidt (1612 – 1675)
Georges Nehme, Tenor 1
Bassam Abboud, Tenor 2
Emilio Matar, Bass
Magnificat in D major Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714 – 1788)
Nadine Nassar, Soprano
Michel Bou-Rjeily, Countertenor
Haitham Haidar, Tenor
Bassam Abboud, Bass
II. Christmas Carols
Les anges dans nos campagnes Traditional French Carol
Arranged by Maurice Dela & Bertrand Robilliard
Game of the bells Peter J. Wilhousky / Ramin Djawadi
Original mashup by L.E.J
Choral arrangement by Yasmina Sabbah
Orchestration by Vartan Agopian
La Marche des Rois Traditional French Carol
Arranged by Mark Hayes
Joy to the World Lowell Mason
Arranged by John Rutter
A Holiday Sing-Along Arranged by Audrey Snyder
The USJ Choir:
Bassam Abboud, Assistant director
Olga Bolun, Accompanist
Emilio Matar, Section leader
Soprano
Sarah Abi Samra
Lena Arslanian
Louisa El Khoury
Veronique Fleury
Marie-Christine Hakime
Karen Hamad
Leonie Harsch
Mira Hout
Myriam Michael
Maria Moukarzel
Reem Nehme
Najla Sadek
Riwa Samaha
Liliane Sleiman
Danielle Yacoub
Alto
Viviane Abi Hayla
Jocelyn Adjizian
Christa Boulos
Nayla Chahine
Joumana Comaty
Nadine Deaibess
Josiane Deghel
Marie Alexia Delerue
Aida Kassia
Priscilla Medawar
Cristina Menegazzi
Jihane Nacouzi
Mirène Nasr
Leila Samaras
Sarah Tcheroyan
Soha Yammine
Tenor
Bassam Abboud
Nabil Bou-Jaoude
Guillaume Checri
Ralph Dargham
Pierre Kamel
Giovanni Nehme
Nadim Tarabay
Bass
Imad Bissat
Makram Boustani
Henri El Kayem
Raymond Harb
Nadeem Itani
Paul Jamhouri
Emilio Matar
Ghassan Zeenni