ABOUT

Lauded for his “musical accuracy” and “emotional intensity,” Fouad Fakhouri is an internationally celebrated conductor whose performances go beyond the score to capture both the essence and spirit of the music, delivering powerful, memorable, and deeply engaging symphonic experiences. 

Fakhouri currently serves as Music Director of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra in Michigan and the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra in Texas. He previously led the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra in North Carolina for over a decade and has held positions as Principal Guest Conductor of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the Greensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra. Internationally, he has been a frequent guest conductor with the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra. Throughout his career, Fakhouri has been invited to present workshops, masterclasses, and lectures, and has collaborated with musicians from prestigious institutions including the Staatskapelle Berlin, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Recognized for eliciting exceptional musicianship, Fakhouri is consistently praised for his ability to “elevate the artistic performance level of orchestras he conducts.” Combined with an innate ability to share his enthusiasm for music on and off the podium, orchestras under his baton regularly see significant increases in audience attendance and arts engagement in the cities and communities he serves. A passionate advocate for new music, Fakhouri actively champions contemporary composers and commissions new works, while pursuing collaborations with diverse venues and arts organizations. He has also helped develop and implement a wide range of innovative concert series, education programs, and performing opportunities for musicians and young artists.

In recognition of his remarkable career, visionary leadership of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, and dedication to music and community, Methodist University awarded Fakhouri an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. He was inducted into the Fayetteville Music Hall of Fame, and community donors established the Fouad K. Fakhouri Endowment for Artistic Excellence, a $1.1 million fund honoring his legacy. He has also received the Arts and Architecture Alumni Award from the Penn State University School of Music.

In addition to conducting, Fakhouri is an active composer of a multitude of symphonic, chamber, choral, and solo music. Several of his works have been premiered and performed throughout the US, Europe, and the Eastern Mediterranean by such ensembles as the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra in the UK, the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra, and the Mediterranean Orchestra in Italy. 

Born into a family of musicians spanning four generations, Fakhouri holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of North Texas, dual Master’s degrees in Orchestral Conducting and Composition/Theory from Pennsylvania State University, and a Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition from West Texas A & M University.

He resides in Manhattan with his wife and daughter.

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