KIFAH FAKHOURI

Kifah Fakhouri is the director of the Jordanian National Music Conservatory (Noor Al Hussein Foundation – King Hussein Foundation) since 1988. Under his directorship, the Conservatory was able to increase music awareness on the national level, develop music pedagogy in Jordan to meet international standards and establish a place for Jordan on the world musical map.

Kifah Fakhouri is the secretary general of the Arab Academy of Music (Arab League), in this capacity, he is the editor in chief of the “Arab Music Journal” (published in Arabic). He also organizes competitions for instruments used in Arab music, festivals, conferences and fora that deal mainly with music in the Arab world.

Lately, he just finished a period of four years as the president of the International Music Council (October 2001 to October 2005).

Kifah Fakhouri holds a doctorate degree in music education, a master’s degree in music education, one bachelor’s degree in composition and conducting and another in public administration. He is the author of a series of music textbooks, teacher manuals and related learning materials in Arabic. He composed music for films, musicales and television. He also established and conducted the Beirut Symphonic Band as well as other ensembles as part of his work both in Lebanon and Jordan.

Fakhouri is also a university lecturer (presently at the College of Musicology, University of the Holy Spirit, Kaslik – Lebanon), adjudicator, curriculum and program designer in the field of music and music education with special counteraction on Arab Music. He is also board member of World Culture Forum Alliance (Vienna), Middle East Center for Culture and Development (New York), and Jordan Intellectual Property Association. Furthermore, he is a member of the Expert Committee of Music in ME (The Netherlands).