Music Director

Fouad Fakhouri

Music Director – Conductor

With over two decades of international credits as a conductor and composer, Fouad Fakhouri is committed to actively engaging audiences through powerful artistic experiences. Known for his “musical accuracy” and “emotional intensity,” his performances have been celebrated for their broad, dynamic and powerful interpretations, which go beyond the score to capture both the essence and spirit of music.

In June 2016, after a year and a half long international search, Fakhouri was named Music Director of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra in Michigan. From 2014 – 2016 Fakhouri served as Music Director and Conductor of Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra (North Carolina). In 2009 he was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra where he led the orchestra on its first international tour to Austria and Germany.

Among his many recent guest conducting appearances are the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra (Lebanon), Saginaw Bay Orchestra (Michigan), Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (New York), Cairo Symphony Orchestra (Egypt) and the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra (Sophia, Bulgaria).

In addition to conducting, Fakhouri is an active composer of a multitude of symphonic, chamber, choral and solo music. His works have been premiered and performed by the English Chamber Orchestra (UK), the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra, the Mediterranean Orchestra (Italy) and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra to name a few.

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Fakhouri hails from a musical family whose roots go back four generations. He holds a doctor of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of North Texas, and a Master of Orchestral Conducting, as well as a Master of Music in Composition/Theory from Pennsylvania State University. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition from West Texas A&M University.

In December 2014 in recognition of “his impressive career achievements, phenomenal leadership of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra (FSO), and dedication to music and the community” Methodist University (NC) bestowed upon him an honorary Doctorate of Human Letters. In March 2016 he was inducted into the Fayetteville (NC) Music Hall of Fame and in April 2016, upon the completion of a highly successful 11-season tenure with the FSO, individual donors honored him with establishing “The Fouad K. Fakhouri Endowment for Artistic Excellence” – a $1.1 million fund.

Fakhouri resides in New York City with his wife Diane Lavelle, an advertising executive, and their daughter Isabella.