Oussama Al Rahbani ( ar, أسامة الرحباني) (born 1965) is a Lebanese musician and composer. He is the son of the Lebanese composer, musician and poet

Mansour Rahbani Mansour Rahbani ( ar, منصور الرحباني, Manṣūr Al-Raḥbāni; 17 March 1925 – 13 January 2009) was a Lebanese composer, musician, poet, philosopher, thinker and producer, known as one of the Rahbani brothers, and the b ...

. Oussama completed his education at Collège des Frères Maristes Champville until 1973, Collège des Apôtres, Jounieh until 1982 and finally Kaslik, where he got his Lebanese baccalaureate. He studied History at the

Lebanese University The Lebanese University (LU) (, ) is the only public university in Beirut, Lebanon. It is ranked #701–750 worldwide in terms of education. The creation of the Lebanese University was an idea first mentioned in the speech of the former Minist ...

. A keen soccer fan, he played as an amateur. He took piano lessons from a young age and music courses at

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...

in 1990 and 1995. His music shows have an influence from his brother Marwan Rahbani and cousin

Ziad Rahbani Ziad Rahbani ( ar, زياد الرحباني, born 1956) is a Lebanese composer, pianist, playwright, and political commentator. He is the son of Fairouz, one of Lebanon and the Arab world's most famous singers, and Assi Rahbani, one of the found ...

; classical music and jazz music. Oussama's background in classical music developed alongside Marwan, and Ghadi Rahbani. He is also an avid music collector.

Career

1978 to 1980, he was a choirmaster of the youth choir at St Elie's church in

Antelias Antelias ( ar, أنطلياس) is a city in Lebanon in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate. It is located around 5 km to the north of Beirut. Etymology The name is originally Greek, ἀντήλιος – from ἀντί(ant ...

. From 1982 to 1986, he performed as a musician with the

Rahbani brothers The Rahbani brothers (Arabic: الأخوان رحباني), Assi Rahbani (4 May 1923 – 21 June 1986) and Mansour Rahbani (1925 – 13 January 2009) were Lebanese sibling musicians, composers, songwriters, authors, and playwrights/dramatists, bes ...

and in the show ''Hello Beirut'' by Marwan and Ghadi Rahbani. The show toured a number of

Arab countries The Arab world ( ar, اَلْعَالَمُ الْعَرَبِيُّ '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, refers to a vast group of countries, mainly located in Western As ...

. In 1986, he founded the Jazz Gate band and performed at the 1987 Byblos International Festival and in 1989 at Casino du Liban. In 1988, he branched out to composing children songs for television programs produced by Ghadi and Marwan Rahbani and later composed "Helm Laylit el Sharq" for Lebanese Caracalla dancing group. He composed music for Chouchou's famous play ''Carambole'' directed by Roger Assaf. In 1993, he participated as a composer and conductor in the musical play ''Al Wassiya'' by Mansour Rahbani and in ''Al Inqilab'' by Marwan & Ghadi Rahbani, also acting in the play. In 1997, he released an album entitled ''Al Nizam al Jadid'' and composed the soundtrack of the TV series ''Al Wasaj'' by Najdat Anzour and in 1998 composed music for the play ''Last Days of Socrates'' by Mansour Rahbani and in 2000, ''Wa kama fil yawm al taleth'' written by Mansour Rahbani. He also participated in a modern orchestration of the Maronite Mass by Mansour Rahbani and released his own album ''Bi Sabah el Alf el Talet''. In 2001, he took part as composer and conductor in the musical play ''Abou Tayeb al Mutanabi'' by Mansour Rahbani and produced a Russian night concert in Lebanon with St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Nicolai Alexyev. In 2003, he took part as composer in ''Moulouk al Tawaef'', a musical play by Mansour Rahbani and in 2004, wrote a musical adaptation of ''Romeo and Juliet'' in Arabic title ''Akher Yom'' with choreography by

Debbie Allen Deborah Kaye Allen (born January 16, 1950) is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, singer-songwriter, director, producer, and a former member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. She has been nominated 20 times for an ...

and also composed ''Hekm el Reayen'' yet another musical play by Mansour Rahbani. Between 2004 and 2007, he was a consultant in the reality TV show ''Star Academy'' produced by

LBC LBC (originally the London Broadcasting Company) is a British phone-in and talk radio station owned and operated by Global and based in its headquarters in London. It was the UK's first licensed commercial radio station, and began to broadcast ...

giving musical culture lessons to the aspiring contestants. In 2005, he composed, orchestrated and produced ''Gebran wel Nabi'', an adaptation of ''The Prophet'' by Gebran Khalil Gebran. It was performed at the Byblos International Festival and later at Forum de Beyrouth. In 2007, he composed for ''Zenobia'', a musical play Mansour Rahbani followed by ''The Return of the Phoenix'', performed at the Byblos International Festival, at Casino du Liban and in Dubai. In 2009, came the turn of a remake of the musical play ''Sayf 840'' by Mansour Rahbani along with Ghadi and Marwan Rahbani performed at Byblos festival, and at Casino du Liban. In 2011, he produced, composed and orchestrated the album ''La Bidayi w la Nihayi'' featuring

Hiba Tawaji Hiba Michel Tawaji (; born 10 December 1987) is a Lebanese singer, actress, and director. Since 2008, she established herself in the Lebanese and Arab music scene as a major artist recognized for her vocal skills. She has a 4-octave vocal range. ...

Since 2007 he's been working with her and together they made 2 albums with new songs and 1 live album He also composed the musical play ''Don Quixote'' by Marwan and Ghadi Rahbani performed at Byblos International Festival. He also took part in Ehdeniyat Festival and the Palais des Congrès Lebanon with Hiba Tawaji and Wadih Abi Raad.Al Akhbar Lebanon: أسامة الرحباني يشعل فتيل... الموسيقى
He is also known for having written songs for a number of artists, produced music videos and a great number of advertisements and jingles for various business and cultural entities and for public awareness campaigns and charities.

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rahbani, Oussama Lebanese musicians 1965 births Lebanese composers Living people Eastern Orthodox Christians from Lebanon