"Une révélation dans le domaine de la chanson.
Sa voix est juste, sensuelle et très expressive!"
Jean-Marc Grenier - président jury international IVème Jeux de la Francophonie
Tania Kassis was granted the Lebanese Accomplishment Medal
and appointed Honorary Ambassador of the South-Korean Contingent of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
Tania Kassis started her first singing lessons at the age of 16, and gave her first solo opera concert at 17. The next year, she interpreted Cosette in the Musical « Les Misérables » at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut.
In July 2001, she is chosen to represent Lebanon in the Fourth Francophone Games (les IVème Jeux de la Francophonie) in Ottawa-Hull (Canada), where the local press said: "cette sirène du pays des cèdres qui a embrasé son public qui lui a réservé une ovation debout" (Journal Le Droit).
This participation had such a success that she was granted the Medal of the town of Ottawa-Hull, the Lebanese Achievement Medal and an Excellency Certificat by « The Canadian Lebanese Professional and Business Association of Ottawa ».
In 2003, she enters the Paris Conservatory in the class of Mr Pierre Catala, qualified by the Julliard School of New York. During this period, she discovers the Musicals and she gives a concert « Special Musicals » at the Conservatory and then at the Estivals of Deir el Qamar (Lebanon).
In October 2006, she becomes a member and soloist of the Choir of the Paris Orchestra (le Chœur de l'Orchestre de Paris) and participate regularly to it's concerts at the prestigious Salle Pleyel.
In June 2007, she presents ETERNAL LEBANON (Eternel Liban) at the UNESCO Palace of Paris with a repertoire representing the Lebanese cultural diversity, mixing classical music to oriental and occidental music."Elle réussi la gageure de cet essor au niveau international" L'Orient-Le-Jour.
In August , she presents « L'Amour à l'Américaine », a jazzy concert that had a huge success at the Faqra Festival, and finishes the year 2007 with a big Christmas Concert untitled : "Christmas From The Movies" at the Palais des Congrès of Beirut, accompanied by an orchestra and movies projections. This concert was attended by more than 1500 persons.
2008 was very rich in concerts: "From Mozart to Gershwin" and her role of Christine in "The Phantom of the Opera" in Paris, a concert in New York for the 125th anniversary of Gibran Khalil Gibran, and "The Magic of Broadway" in Lebanon that received excellent comments in the press: "Une voix qui ensorcelle et séduit. Cette voix, on l'écouterait les yeux fermés juste pour le plaisir de la musique" L'Orient-Le-Jour
She finished the year with a Latin American Concert Tour passing by Venezuela and Colombia, and a concert at the UNESCO Palace of Paris celebrating again the 125th anniversary of Gibran Khalil Gibran, organised by the World Lebanese Cultural Union and sharing the stage with the famous french singer Francis Lalanne.
In 2009, Tania Kassis presented 2 Islamo-Christian Concerts in Paris & in Beirut. She composed for this occasion an "Islamo-Christian AVE" (an Ave Maria mixed with the Muezzin "Allah Akbar" that became later on her biggest hit!
She perfomed in July at the "Christian Song Summer Festival" in Batroun, twice in August at the Faqra Festival ("Around The World" Concert and "Around The Virgin Mary" Concert), and in September at the Saida International Festival organised by Mrs Bahia Hariri "Oumsiya Loubnania".
Tania Kassis has also been invited to be part of the big Opening of the VIth Francophony Games that took place at the "Cité Sportive" in Beirut and that was attended by 30,000 persons as well as the Lebanese President Michel Sleimane, the French First Minister François Fillon, Mr Abdou Diouf, the Prince Albert II of Monaco and other lebanese and international personalities. Tania Kassis sang her "Islamo-Christian AVE " to represent the city of BEIRUT!
In November she offered a second concert in Colombia at the Teatro de Bellas Artes de Bogota that had a big success. She also sang a Maronite Mass at the famous Catedral de Sal that has been transmitted by several local television channels. She ended the year participating to the Second Festival of Sacred Music (Beirut Chant) with her “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” Concert at St Louis Capucin Church.
On February 14th 2010, Tania Kassis has been asked by the Lebanese Prime Minister Mr Saad Hariri to sing the Islamo-Christian AVE at the Martyr Square during the big commemoration of Rafic Hariri’s death in front of more than 200,000 persons. Following this performance, the Pope Benoît XVI asked the Prime Minister to send him a copy of this common prayer!
In August 2010, Tania Kassis is invited to present a concert for the big opening of the Ramadan Festival in Beirut, followed by concerts in Tripoli and Saida.
In November 2010, she did a second Latin American Concerts Tour in Brazil & Argentina accompanied by the world-renowed pianist and arranger Michel Fadel, international percussionist Rony Barrak and her orchestra for the benefit of St George Hospital Beirut. She sang in Spanish and in Portuguese for the occasion and even danced the Tango. The Lebanese Soprano left a major emotional impact on the Argentinean and Brazilian communities of Lebanese origin.
Tania Kassis ended the year 2010 with 3 major concerts for Christmas: an invitation to sing for the Chronic Care Center by former First Lady Mrs Mona Hraoui with the participation of the Talacemic and Diabetic children of the center, an invitation by the College Notre Dame de Jamhour school to sing for Mrs Leila el Solh Hamade with the participation a choir of 155 children & a concert for the 3rd Festival of Sacred Music (Beirut Chants) organized by Solidere in the St Elie Kantari with her own children choir.
On February 14th 2011, Tania Kassis was asked to sing the Lebanese National Anthem "Acapella" as well as the Islamo-Christian AVE at BIEL during the 6th commemoration of the assassination of Prime Minister Rafic Hariri which brought tears to the eyes of Lebanese Prime Minister Mr. Saad Hariri.
In April 2011, Tania Kassis presented a religious concert at the occasion of Easter accompanied by her children's choir at the St Joseph Church in Monnot. All the benefits were offered to the Cénacle de la Lumière Association that takes care of drug addicts. Tania Kassis trained for this occasion around 20 addicts under rehabilitation, who shared with her the stage during this concert.
On June 10th 2011, she offered a big Latino-Oriental show at the Beirut Music & Arts Festival that gathered more than 2000 persons. She was accompanied by an orchestra, a choir, and 6 tango and latino dancers. She surprised the public by singing in English, French, Arabic but also Spanish, Portuguese and even German, and by dancing herself on 2 songs: a tango and a chacha!
The concert ended with several ambassadors (mainly those of Latin America) dancing on stage and singing along with Tania Kassis.
In August 2011, Tania Kassis was invited by the South Korean Contingent of the UNIFIL (United Nations Iterim Forces in Lebanon) to an official visit to South Korea. During her visit, she had the honor to sing the South Korean National Anthem for the Opening of a big Baseball Game in Seoul upon the request of the LG Twins Baseball Team and had the occasion of participating in the most famous South Korean TV Show "Starking" broadcasted on SBS.
During the same month, the Commander of the South-Korean Contingent of the UNIFIL Colonel Kim Tae-up appointed Tania Kassis Honorary Ambassador of the Contingent and dedicated ascholarship in her name, the "Tania Kassis' Scholarships" earmarked to less than privileged students from the South of Lebanon.
On September 21st, Tania Kassis offered along with her children choir a Peace Concert on the occasion of the International Peace Day (designated by the United Nations) at the South Korean Contingent of the UNIFIL in presence of the UNIFIL Commanders of the 36 countries present in
South Lebanon, who all joined her on stage at the end to sing a final song
for Peace with one voice.
Following all her engagement for Peace, Tania Kassis was invited to participate to a big Event for Peace at the Casino du Liban in presence of Former Red Cross Ambassador Top Model Adriana Karembeu and major Lebanese figures.
Tania Kassis ended the year 2011 with 3 major events. She was invited to perform at the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra Christmas Concert conducted by Maestro Harout Fazlian and sharing also the stage with Tenor Eliya Francis and Baritone Raymond Ghattas.
She participated in the Forth Festival of Sacred Music (Beirut Chant) with a "Christmas From Around The World" Concert at St Louis Capucin Church, singing Christmas songs from Italy, England, Czech Republic, Venezuala, Germany, Korea, Spain, France, ect... in presence of many Ambassadors and Lebanese political figures.
Tania Kassis celebrated the end of 2011 and the start of 2012 at Mar Mikhael Cathedral in Tripoli on December 30 with people of all religions and confessions, singing together for Faith, Love and Peace!
MEDALS & REWARDS:
* Lebanese Achievement Medal awarded by the Minister of Culture, Mr Ghassan Salamé
* Medal of the Town Hall of Ottawa- Hull (Canada)
* Excellence Certificate delivered by «The Canadian Professional and Association of Ottawa»
CD Releases:
"Oriental Colors": a mixture of International ans Lebanese songs including different music styles going from Jazz to Bossa Nova and from Traditional to Techno songs with contributions from many renowned musicians and DJs such as Elias Rahbani, Michel Fadel, Jad Mhanna, Said Mrad, Fabrice Mantegna (Tenor of the group ERA), Michel & Olivier Leclerc and other Lebanese and French artists.
"Islamo-Christian AVE": An inspired arrangement of Ave Maria accompanied by the Adhan "Allah Akbar".
Some of Tania Kassis’ main performances
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
2011: - Special
performance of the Lebanese National Anthem for the Lebanese
Independance Day at H.E. Ambassador Antoine Chedid's Residence in
Washington DC and at Lebanese Consulate in New York
2008:
- Concert for the 125 Anniversary of Gibran Khalil Gibran at Colombia
University in New York, organized by the New Pen’s League
SOUTH KOREA
2011: - Invited by the LG Twins Team to sing the South Korean National Anthem for the Opening of a big Baseball Game in Seoul
- Participated in the most famous South Korean TV Show "Starking" broadcasted on SBS
BRAZIL
2010: - Two fundraising concerts at the MonteLibano Clubwith
Michel Fadel, Rony Barrak and her orchestra. This concert done with the
support of His Eminence Metropolitan Damaskinos Mansour, Archbishop of
the Orthodox Church of Sao Paolo and all Brazil was part of a Latin American concerts tour organized by and for the benefits of Saint George Hospital - Beirut
ARGENTINA
2010: - Fundraising concert at Teatro Astral with pianist & arranger Michel Fadel, percussionist Rony Barrak and her orchestra. This concert done in collaboration with the Latin American Chapter of the World Lebanese Cultural Union - JUCAL was part of a Latin American concerts tour organized by and for the benefits of Saint George Hospital - Beirut
FRANCE
2010: - Invited to be part of the show "La Nuit du Ramadan" broadcasted on France 2 and TV5 and presented by Samuel Etienne & Myriam Seurat, with the participation of other artists such as: Chico et les Gypsies, Sheryfa Luna, Al Mawsili Ensemble, Nassima, ect...
2009: - Islamo-Christian Concert organized by the World Lebanese Cultural Union and the Lebanese Businessman’s Association of France at Collège des Bernardins in Paris. - In March, special participation honoring the Lebanese President Michel Sleimane at the occasion of his trip to Paris
2008: - Concert with the famous french singer Francis Lalanne for the 125 Anniversary of Gibran Khalil Gibran at the UNESCO Palace in Paris organized by the World Lebanese Cultural Union and the Lebanese Businessman’s Association of France.
- Role of Christine in "The Phantom of the Opera" (Private concerts in costume)
- "From Mozart to Gershwin" Concert at Conservatoire Francis Poulenc in Paris
From 2007 to 2009: was a member and soloist of "Choeur de l'Orchestre de Paris" (the Choir of Paris Orchestra)
-"Eternel Liban" Concert at UNESCO-Paris, under the High Patronage of the Lebanese Delegation of the UNESCO and her Excellency Mrs Sylvie Fadlallah, and with the support of the Lebanese Tourism Information Office of Paris. The aim of this concert was to promote the Lebanese cultural diversity (France)
2005: - "Special Musicals" concert at Conservatoire Francis Poulenc in Paris
COLOMBIA
2009: - Fundraising concert in the Teatro de Bellas Artes de Bogota for the “Nuestra Senora del Libano” Association
- Big Mass Celebration in the famous Catedral de Sal in Bogota, transmitted on local television channels
2008: - Fundraising concert at the Club Nogal in Bogota for the “Nuestra Senora del Libano” Association
VENEZUELA
2008: - Fundraising concert in Caracas for the Lebanese Red Cross
CANADA
2001: - Represented Lebanon at the « 4th Francophony Games » in Ottawa-Hull
LEBANON
2011: - Special Guest of a unique Evening for Peace at the Casino du Liban along with former Lebanese First Lady Mrs Mouna Haraoui, Mrs Leila el Solh, Adriana Karembeu (international top model and former ambassador of the Red Cross in the world) as well as Argentinian pianist Raoul Di Blasio. This event was organized by Bee Events.
- Offered a concert on September 21, for the International Day of Peace in presence of the Commanders of the 36 countries of the UNIFIL present in Lebanon that shared the stage with her on the last song "We Are The World" at the South Korean Contingent
- Sang the Lebanese and Belgium National Anthems at the Ambassador's residence in Beirut for the National Day of Belgium
- Sang the Lebanese and South Korean National Anthems at the UNESCO Palace of Beirut for the celebration of the 30 years of relation between Lebanon and South Korea
- Sang for the Medal Parade (ceremony of attribution of Medals by the United Nations) at the South Korean Contingent of the UNIFIL
- Latino-Oriental Concert at the "Beirut Music & Arts Festival"
- Easter Concert for the benefit of "Le Cénacle de la Lumière" at St Joseph Church
- 6th Commemoration of P.M. Rafic Hariri’s Death at BIEL on February 14 with the Lebanese National Anthem "ACapella" and the “Islamo-Christian AVE”.
2010: - Christmas Concert offered by Notre Dame de Jamhour to H.E. Mrs Leila el Solh Hamadé at the church of the school.
- Chritmas Concert for the Chronic Care Center under the theme "Chou Ma Sar" with the participation of the children of the center and Lebanese pianist and arranger Michel Fadel.
- Concert tour in Lebanon at the occasion of the month of Ramadan in Tripoli & Saida
- Big opening of the Ramadan Festival at Beirut Souks.
- Performance at the occasion of the Islamo-Christian National Day at ND de Jamhour Church.
- Fifth Commemoration of P.M. Rafic Hariri’s Death at the Martyr Square on February 14 with the “Islamo-Christian AVE”.
2009: - Second Festival of Sacred Music (Beirut Chant) “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” Concert at St Louis Capucin Church
- Opening of the VIth Francophony Games
- International Saida Festival with « Oumsiya Loubnania »,
- Faqra Summer Festival with 2 concerts: « Around The World » & « Around TheVirgin Mary »
- Christian Song Summer Festival of Batroun (Lebanon)
- Islamo-Christian Concerts organized by the World Lebanese Cultural Union and the Lebanese Businessman’s Association of France at Campus des Sciences Humaines in Beirut
2008: - Faqra Summer Festival, «The Magic of Broadway» written & created by Tania Kassis
2007: - "Christmas From The Movies" concert at the Palais des Congrès
- Faqra Summer Festival with a jazzy concert "L’Amour à l’Américaine”
2006: - "I'm Dreaming of a White Peaceful Christmas", concert for Peace at the Jesuits Church (Lebanon)
2005: - Deir el Qamar Festival with "The Magic Of The Musicals" written and created by Tania Kassis
2002: - Al Bustan Festival, concert promoting young Lebanese talents (Lebanon)
2001- 2003: - Several Charity Concerts in Lebanon
1999-2000: - Soloist of the Lycée Franco-Libanais Choir, directed by Mrs Noha Hatem (Lebanon)
May 2000: - Role of Cosette in «The Miserables» sponsored by the French Cultural Center (UNESCO-Lebanon)
May 1999: - First classical and religious concert at the Notre Dame des Dons Church (Lebanon)
EXPERIENCE:
Since 2010: Children choir conductor & singing teacher in Beirut.
2006-2009: Member and Soloist of the Choir of the Paris Orchestra. Concerts at the Prestigious Salle Pleyel and at Bercy.
2006: Shortlisted among the 40 finalists to represent France at the Eurovision
2005-2006: Children choir conductor & music teacher at Notre Dame du Liban Church in Paris
MUSIC STUDIES:
2003-2007: Opera singing Degree at the Conservatoire Francis Poulenc in the class of Pierre Catala (Paris)
2003-2004: Singing courses with Mrs Armande Altaï (Paris- France)
1999-2003: Private opera singing courses with Mrs Aline Aoun,
(graduate of the Conservatoire of Beirut)
1997-1999: Opera singing courses at the National Conservatoire of Beirut
SCHOOL & UNIVERSITY:
2000-2003: Business–Marketing Diploma "with Distinction” from the Lebanese American University (LAU)
1988-2000: Primary & Secondary studies at Lycée Franco-Libanais (Lebanon) – French Economic Baccalaureate
