Rahib Haddad
A Palestinian Arab citizen of Israel, Rahib Haddad lives in Shefa’amr in Galilee. He studied music at Tel Aviv University where his conducting teacher was Professor Avner Itai. Rahib is a conductor, musical director, and pioneer of Arabic music in Israel, who has encouraged and established different choirs for children and young people in numerous towns in the Arabic sector. In Shefa’amr, Mr. Haddad established and conducted a wind band for Muslim, Christian and Druze young people for several years. Among numerous professional teaching engagements, he has been a lecturer in Arabic music at the Jerusalem Academy of Music. Mr. Haddad is active in re-sculpting Arabic music culture especially as regards the choral idiom. He has created a rich awareness of Arab choral music especially in Shafa’amr. He is currently the conductor of three choirs: Al Baath Choir, Sawa Choir, and Sawa Children’s Choir. Since 1997, Rahib Haddad has been the director of the Sawa Centre in the Sisters of Nazareth Convent in Shafa’amr, one of the most important cultural centers in the Arab sector in Galilee. Email: rahibh@gmail.com
