Lubana Al Quntar
DEARBORN 2025 - 2026
Lubana Al Quntar is an internationally acclaimed Syrian opera and classical Arabic singer, renowned for her powerful voice and unique fusion of Eastern and Western vocal traditions. Born into a musical family with ties to the legendary Asmahan and Farid Al-Atrash, Al Quntar’s musical journey began in childhood, showcasing her talent through complex Arabic compositions at regional festivals. She became the first Syrian woman to professionally pursue opera, earning international acclaim with awards such as Fifth Prize at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium and the Audience Prize at the Belgrade International Competition. Her illustrious career includes performances at prestigious venues in Europe and the U.S., such as Lincoln Theatre, the Kennedy Center, and Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, where she starred in Salomé, blending Arabic and operatic styles in a groundbreaking theatrical form. Now residing in Dearborn, Michigan, in collaboration with the Arab American National Museum, Al Quntar founded the Jawqa Choir, a pioneering initiative blending Arabic and Western choral traditions. She continues to perform and teach, collaborating with the National Arab Orchestra and cultural institutions across the U.S., furthering her mission to promote and preserve the rich heritage of Arabic music.
COMMUNITY PROJECT
Lubana is directing a community choir called Jawqa in partnership with the Arab American National Museum and the National Arab Orchestra. The choir is made up of individuals of all ages and backgrounds, many of whom bring unique cultural and musical traditions into the shared space. The members include longtime residents, immigrants, students, retirees, and others who are drawn together by a love of singing and a desire to build community through music.
Lubana is inspired by the transformative power of communal singing as a vehicle for connection, healing, and identity. In Dearborn – a city with one of the largest Arab American populations in the U.S. – voices are a powerful metaphor and literal instrument for visibility, resilience, and celebration. Lubanna is motivated particularly by the choir’s ability to offer a welcoming, creative space where people can bring their full selves, regardless of musical training or background.
Lubana is interested in how music can document lived experience and foster empathy; viewing the community choir as a living archive of community voices. Through her project, Lubana hopes to explore both traditional and contemporary repertoire that reflects the identities of the members, and to co-create original pieces that tell their shared stories. Whether through performance, recording, or community engagement events, Lubana’s goal is to help amplify the voices of Dearborn through a process that is inclusive, participatory, and artistically rich.