Ghada Ghanem is a Voice Teacher at the Higher Lebanese National Conservatory and her private voice studio. She taught music in the Theatre and Music Departments at the Lebanese University and is currently teaching at the Lebanese American University.
She sings regularly with both Lebanese Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and Lebanese Oriental Symphony Orchestra. A fanatic of Bel Canto, Ghada Ghanem is both a ‘cantatrice’ and a technician of the art of vocalises. She always introduces herself as a Lyric Soprano, living in a dramatic country.
Ghanem holds a Bachelor Degree in Lebanese and French Law from USJ, Lebanon and a Master Degree in Music, specializing in Vocal Performance from Rice University, in Houston. During her studies at Rice University, Ghada auditioned for HGO Maestro John Demain who guided her towards studying with the famous Mezzo-Soprano Elena Nikolaidi (known as Niki) who was then the head of the voice department at the Houston Grand Opera and who adopted her musically for the rest of her life. In the summer of 1992, Ghada enrolled in the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria where she studied with Frau Ena Thiessen.
After leaving Austria, Ghanem moved to New York City where she joined the United Nations as a staff member for eight years working in the Public Information Department. In NYC, she had won the Encouragement Award from the Wagner Society in 1995, and was one of the semi-finalists at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, 1996/Eastern Region.
Although Ghanem was trained in operatic music, she wanted to also stay in touch with her rich Arabic musical heritage. So, while living in New York, she took private vocal instruction with Arab-American musicians, thus expanding her repertoire to include classical Near Eastern songs.
She has also created an online platform that she named ‘Beirut Underground Opera’, inviting the opera-appreciators of Lebanon to ‘rise above the ground’!
Albums
Ave Maria, 2008
Come Ready and see me, 1997
Lavender Lullabies, 2012
Smell of Rain, 2005
