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Artistic Director and Primary Conductor of the Lebanese National Oriental Orchestra at the Lebanese National Conservatory.

A Lebanese musician who grew up in an atmosphere of music and arts as his mother was an Accordion player who was fond of music and arts.

Influenced by this musical and artistic atmosphere, Hajj began studying music at the age of sixteen, and graduated from “The Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Lebanon” with a diploma in Oud and a bachelor of arts in Educational Music.

 

●In 1989, he joined the Educational Staff of the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik as an Instructor of Oud, and was the youngest Music Instructor in the university.

●In 1995, he joined the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music as Instructor of Oud, and became a member of the Professional Musicians’ Syndicate in Lebanon.

●In 2000, he joined The Lebanese National Oriental Orchestra as the Primary Oud Player, and that was his motivation to start his musical composition and learning orchestra conducting, under the supervision of late Dr. Walid Gholmieh (the founder and the former conductor of the orchestra and the former director of the Lebanese National Conservatory) So, he produced two musical works entitled "Simply Music" in 2004 and "Places"(Amaken Instrumental Music From Lebanon by ARC Music-London, in two releases: 2009 and 2018) 

 

 

●In 2002, he founded and conducted “Metn Orchestra” (Music Student Orchestra), and then he was in charge of the students’ chamber music of the USEK. 

●In 2003, he formed the musical group, “Amaken”, to perform traditional Lebanese and Arabic music, and gave regular concerts in Lebanon and participated in musical festivals in Germany and France.

 

●In 2004, he became a member of the Association of Music Authors, Composers and Publishers (SACEM).

 

●From 2008 till 2011, Hajj was appointed as the dean of the Oud instrument at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music. During that time he co-wrote two books with a group of instructors on teaching the Oud instrument.

●In 2011, Hajj was mentored and nominated by Dr. Walid Gholmieh to be the Artistic Director and Primary Conductor of the Lebanese National Oriental Orchestra.

 

 Since then, he was awarded the trophy of the Lebanese Ministry of Culture, the trophy of the Lebanese Embassy in Kuwait, and the trophy of the Lions Club International Association for reviving the Lebanese and Arab heritage. He also received numerous appreciation awards from artists and their associations. Among the Lebanese and Arab Legends and Artists honored by Hajj through special concerts that featured their works, were: Wadih Al-Safi, the Rahbani brothers, Sabah, Farid Al-Atrash, Um Kulthum, Zaki Nassif, Toufic Al-Bacha, Mohammad Abdel Wahab, Marcel Khalifé, Ahmad Qaabour, Walid Golmieh, Nasri Chamseddine, Élias Rahbani, Élie Choueiri, Antoine Farah, “The League of Five” (Osbat Al-Khamsa), Asmahan, Abdel Halim Hafez, Fayza Ahmad, Melhem Barakat, Ihsan Monzer, Najah Salam, Mehyi Din Al Ghali, Nassir Shamma and many others.

 

 

●In 2015, he conducted the Lebanese National Oriental Orchestra at the Doha International Book Fair, following an invitation by the Ministries of Culture in Qatar and Lebanon.

 

●In 2016, he conducted the Lebanese National Oriental Orchestra in the Zouk Mikael International Festival, Lebanon.

 

●In 2017:

-He conducted the Lebanese National Oriental Orchestra at the Lebanese Cultural Week in Kuwait, following an invitation by the Ministries of Culture in Kuwait and Lebanon, and the Lebanese Embassy in Kuwait.

-He conducted the Lebanese National Oriental Orchestra in the Diamond Jubilee of Beirut National Museum under the patronage of H.E. President Micheal Aoun and H.E. former Minister of Culture Dr. Ghattas Khoury. 

  

●In 2018:

- Maestro Hajj conducted The Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra at Royal Opera House Muscat for two times. The first time was on February 1st with the famous Lebanese singer Jahida Wehbe. The second time was on September 14th, with the Iraqi Oud Virtuoso and UNESCO Artist for Peace, Naseer Shamma. And by that, Maestro Hajj was the first Lebanese and Arabic Conductor who leads Oman Symphony Orchestra in an Arabic and Oriental program, as this orchestra had been playing Opera and Classical programs only.  

 

- He conducted Cairo Opera House Orchestra in a Lebanese musical concert, representing Lebanon in the 27th Arab Music Festival, Egypt, with the Lebanese Singer Carla Ramia and the Lebanese Violinist Andre Soueid.

 

 - He conducted the Lebanese National Oriental Orchestra in the Diamond Jubilee of the Lebanese Independence under the patronage of H.E. Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the Grand Serail, with the choir of the Islamic Orphanage.

 

 - He conducted the Lebanese National Oriental Orchestra in the inauguration of the National Library under the patronage and presence of H.E. President Micheal Aoun and

H.E. former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and H.E. former Minister of Culture Dr. Ghattas Khoury.  

-He conducted the Lebanese National Oriental Orchestra in Saida International Festival, Lebanon.

 

●In 2019:

-Maestro Hajj conducted the Lebanese National Oriental Orchestra in the Arab Music International Day, organized by the Arab Academy of Music (Arab League) in Tripoli, Lebanon.

 

-He conducted the Syrian National Arabic Orchestra at Damascus Opera House in a Lebanese program, with Lebanese Singer Carla Ramia. And he was the first guest conductor in Syria. 

 

-He conducted Lebanese National Oriental Orchestra in an Egyptian-Lebanese concert with the Egyptian Singer Ghada Rajab, under the patronage of H.E. Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Mr. Nazih Najjari and Hiba Al Kawas International Inc.

 

-He conducted Kiev National Orchestra in an event organized by Nabad Al Riyadh, Al Riyadh-KSA.

 

●In 2020:

-For the second year, He conducted the Syrian National Arabic Orchestra at Damascus Opera House, with Lebanese Singer Soumaya Baalbaki.

 

-He conducted Lebanese National Oriental Orchestra in a tribute to the Lebanese composer and academic Fouad Aouad.

  

-He conducted the Lebanese National Oriental Orchestra in a tribute to Beirut (after Beirut Port blast), organized by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Beirut-Lebanon.

 

-He conducted Iran National Orchestra in a tribute to Beirut (After Beirut Port blast), organized by Rodky Organization of Culture and Arts, Tehran- Iran.

 

●Regularly, Maestro Hajj conducts the Lebanese National Oriental Orchestra in many Local Lebanese Festivals. As well in the concerts organized by Zaki Nassif Music Program - American University of Beirut, and the annual concerts organized by the Association for Protecting Natural Sites and Old Buildings in Lebanon (APSAD).

 

●Maestro Hajj has a keen interest in reviving Arabic-Oriental Music and introducing it widely to the western world. As well as in supporting and encouraging music composition, new musical talents, and youth choirs.