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.

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.

NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY CHOIR

With more than a dozen concerts per season, numerous recordings and publications, as well as many international awards, NDU Choir is one of Lebanon and the region’s outstanding choirs. A broad repertoire, a richly warm sound, an unmistakable interpretation all contribute to make it a permanent partner of the international festivals, and the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra and its conductors, where it functions as a musical ambassador for Beirut in the great concert halls around the world.
Established in 1993, the Notre Dame University Choir has been shaped by reverend Khalil Rahme o.m.m., who returned to Beirut after completing his music studies in Rome, to found the choir and the School of Music at Notre Dame University.
Along with the symphonic choral central repertoire, the annual season programing of the choir includes a wide range of Lebanese music, in close cooperation with celebrated composers, such as Iyad Kanaan, Gabriel Yared and Valentino Miserachs Grau, with the aim of developing and growing the Lebanese choral repertoire. Furthermore, Notre Dame University Choir is constantly developing new and unusual ways of experiencing choral music.

Fanny Soyer, Soprano:

Fanny’s international journey has shaped her into a versatile and expressive artist. Studying abroad allowed her to embrace diverse cultures and artistic perspectives. In 2025, she won the *McGill-UdeM Piano-Vocal Arts Residency Prize* and took home the Audience Prize at the Montreal International Music Competition. The year before, she earned Second Prize at the Canari Competition in Corsica. This French soprano was part of the Favart Academy at Opéra Comique for the season 2024–2025, where she starred in Cherubini’s “Médée” and will return for “Iphigénie en Tauride” under the baton of Louis Langrée. Fanny began her formal training in Paris before continuing her studies in Berlin at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler, where she worked closely with the distinguished soprano Christine Schäfer.
Deeply passionate about the Lied repertoire, she further developed her artistry at the Heidelberger Frühling Lied Academy under the guidance of Thomas Hampson. During this time, she also co-founded the Quatuor Bonelli, performing extensively at festivals across Europe.

After Germany, Fanny moved to Denmark to join the Opera Academy in Copenhagen, then advanced to the Royal Danish Opera’s Young Artist Program. She has performed a range of roles—from Frasquita in “Carmen” to Papagena in “Der Zauberflöte” (in Danish!), and Echo in “Ariadne auf Naxos”.

In 2023, she contributed vocals to Wim Wenders’ documentary Anselm, recording with the Slovak Philharmonic. She’s also performed major works with the Strasbourg Philharmonic and Orchestre Lamoureux, including Mozart’s “Great Mass in C minor” and “Requiem”, as well as Saint-Saëns’ “Christmas Oratorio”—broadcast live on ArteConcert. Fanny regularly collaborates with pianists Manuel Vieillard and Kunal Lahiry, blending deep musical partnerships with creative exploration.

Jean Miannay:

French tenor Jean Miannay was a member of the Opéra National du Rhin studio during the 2023–2024 season, where he notably performed the role of Flavio in Norma. He made his stage debut in 2018 at the Opéra de Lausanne, where he has since taken on numerous roles including Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore), Ferrando (Così fan tutte), Rodolphe (Guillaume Tell), Azincourt (Fortunio), Silvio (Le Docteur Miracle), Monsieur Triquet (Eugene Onegin), and returns this season to perform Juan in Don Quichotte. During the 2025–2026 season, he also sings Normanno in Lucia di Lammermoor at the operas of Rennes, Angers, Nantes, Massy, and Compiègne, and gives a recital at the Opéra d’Avignon. Jean Miannay studied voice in Lausanne with Brigitte Balleys and in Berlin with Scot Weir. He gained early recognition by winning the Grand Prize at the 4th Raymond Duffaut “Opéra jeunes espoirs” Competition, followed by awards at the Clermont- Ferrand Competition, the Kattenburg Competition, the Vienna International Music Competition, and most recently at Lyrichoregra 20 in Canada. He made his French debut as Beppe ( Pagliacci) at the operas of Massy, Avignon, and Clermont-Ferrand. In 2020, he appeared for the first time at the Chorégies d’Orange and returned for the next three years, performing in the Emerging Stage recital and in the roles of Isepo (La Gioconda) and Remendado (Carmen)  In 2022, he made his German debut as Orpheus in Orpheus in der Unterwelt at Theater Magdeburg. Jean Miannay has been represented by the RSBA agency since 2023. Member of the Opéra National du Rhin studio for the 2023-2024 season, French tenor Jean Miannay played the role of Flavio (Norma) on the main stage. He returns to the Opéra de Lausanne this season, singing the roles of Rodolphe (Guillaume Tell) and Azincourt (Fortunio). His young and lyrical voice has taken him to roles such as Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte), Beppe (Pagliacci), Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore), Alfredo (La traviata), Vincent (Mireille), and Des Grieux (Manon). French tenor Jean Miannay studied singing in Lausanne with Brigitte Balleys, and in Berlin with Scot Weir. He distinguished himself in 2018 at the 4th Raymond Duffaut Competition, where he won the Grand Prize. He went on to win prizes at the Clermont-Ferrand Competition, the Kattenburg Competition and the 2nd Vienna International Music Competition. In 2018, he made his stage debut at the Opéra de Lausanne, where he has since performed regularly as Nemorino (L’Elisir d’amore), Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte) and Monsieur Triquet (Eugen Oneguin). He made his French debut as Beppe (Pagliacci) at the Massy, Avignon and Clermont-Ferrand operas. In 2020, he appeared for the first time at the Chorégies d’Orange during the “Nuit Magique”. He returned the following three years, for the Emerging Stage recital, the role of Isepo (La Gioconda) and that of Remendado (Carmen). In 2022, he made his German debut as Orpheus (Orpheus in der Unterwelt) at the Theater Magdeburg. Jean Miannay has been represented by the RSBA agency since 2023. October 2025 – Not to be altered without permission. We update our biographies regularly. Please contact RSB Artists before reproducing the biography.

TOUFIC MAATOUK, CONDUCTOR

Toufic Maatouk has earned global recognition for leading major ensembles such as the Romanian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra del Teatro di San Carlo in Napoli, Orchestra Giovanile Mediterranea, Roma Sinfonietta, Orchestra Sinfonica di Sanremo, Los Angeles Sinfonietta, Korean National University of Arts Symphony Orchestra in Seoul, and Académie de l’Opéra de Paris. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2015 and has performed at renowned festivals and venues such as the Festival d’Île de France, Radio Romania Hall in Bucharest, and Manaus Opera in Brazil. In 2018, he was first invited to conduct at the Baalbeck International Festival—the oldest musical festival in the Middle East, set against the breathtaking backdrop of ancient Roman ruins.

In 2012, he took on the prestigious position of Artistic Director at the acclaimed Beirut Chants Festival. A year later, he became Guest Conductor with the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 2017, he started a yearly collaboration with the Romanian Radio Orchestra.

Maatouk has been praised for his insightful direction and consummate command of the orchestra. Opera Magazine gave him a rave review for conducting Verdi’s Requiem at the Baalbeck International Festival: “His musical sensitivity was immediately evident from the first sounds of the cellos and the care in the search for a specific and symbolic sound. Right from those first thrilling moments, one could find the nuances that brought a distinctive feature to his enlightened reading”.

The Abu Dhabi Festival, of which Maatouk has been Programming Executive Manager and Deputy Executive Director, was voted by BBC Magazine as best classical programming in the Middle East. In his role as member of the Academic Board at the Global Leaders Institute in Washington, D.C., Maatouk has been recognised for his leadership in shaping significant musical projects across the Middle East. 

The conductor is renowned for his meticulous voice work with singers, especially in the Italian and French repertoires. Noteworthy performances include working with great artists such as Maria Agresta, Joyce El Khoury, Jessica Pratt and Daniela Barcellona. He conducted at the prestigious Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago and the XXVI Mese Pucciniano on the Centennial of Puccini. He debuted this year at the Tirana Opera House Orchestra & Choir in Albania. Maatouk is a jury member for prestigious competitions including the Ottavio Ziino International Lyric Competition and Voce Verdiane International Competition. 

For his valuable contribution to the arts, he was knighted with the “Cavaliere dell’Ordine Della Stella d’Italia” by the President of the Italian Republic in 2020. In 2023, the French Ministry of Culture similarly bestowed upon him the title of “Chevalier des arts et des lettres.”

Maatouk studied conducting under Ennio Nicotra and Donato Renzetti. He holds a Ph.D. in Musicology from the Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra in Rome and has various publications with Éditions Geuthner in France. He has recorded 13 albums focusing on Maronite liturgical compositions, aiming to preserve this ancient musical tradition. 

Lately, Maatouk made his debut at the Abu Dhabi Festival, conducted Donizetti’s Rita at the Bucharest Opera Festival, and led a new production of Carmen at the Baalbeck International Festival. Upcoming engagements include his debut with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra in May 2026, among several other projects.