Who we are

"ECHO" is a registered non-profit, non government, cultural musical arts society, formed by amateurs of serious music to promote the Syrian musical life. Membership in ECHO is open to all those interested in helping achieve its goals in accordance to its charter and bylaws.

Why "ECHO"

The serious and continuous efforts of a group of Western trained Syrian vanguard musicians were crowned by the establishment of The Arab Music Conservatory (renamed recently after Mr. Solhi Al-Wadi, the visionary and main driving person behind this movement); there followed the High Institute of Music, and naturally the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra formed from the graduates and the teaching music professors of the conservatory with Mr. Al- Wadi as the orchestra's founder and first conductor.

In parallel, several important theaters and concert halls were built such as Al-Assad National Library, Al-Assad Complex for Culture and Arts, the Opera House, the Ebla Conference Center, cultural centers in the major Syrian towns, , etc… These institutions prompted the performance of classical and contemporary musical concerts, both Western and Arabic, as well as other musical events of various forms with noted success. In turn, such serious music, in comparison to pop music and singing, notably started to attract fast growing Syrian audience.

Naturally arising from this evolving cultural-musical movement on one hand, and the rapidly increasing number of academically trained music graduates on the other, the need to develop suitable and professional working environments became evident to ensure further successes for this cultural "mutation", as described by some foreign and local intellectuals.

"ECHO" is established to assist in securing a sustainable, successful and continuously growing musical movement in Syria. The founders of ECHO believe that those who enjoy listening to serious music at concerts and recitals have to give more than enthusiastic clapping at the end of the event. ECHO's efforts along its broad range of objectives are meant to assist the Syrian musicians, their teams, orchestras, establishments, and associations to develop towards high local and international horizons.

Our efforts are but an ECHO to their music.

What we do

• Support financially, artistically and morally serious Western and Arabic orchestras (symphony, chamber, “takht” and others), chorales, opera, music related arts, and all those working in the musical domain. This will be accomplished by promoting and implementing concerts in Damascus and tours of the main cities in Syria
• Encourage interactive musical relations between Syrian and other international musical groups and musicians aiming at the wider spread of serious Syrian music both inside and outside Syria.
• Strive for wider public interest in classical and serious music culture geographically and socially among the various classes and groups. This aspect covers music publications, editing, critics, lectures, music appreciation, and development of music listening habits, introducing music in the teaching curricula of schools, colleges, and universities at suitable levels and for all age groups.
• Emphasize and/or introducing Syria's cultural status inside and outside the country through music by exchange of musicians and orchestras, participation with music in the promotion of cultural tourism, encouragement of musician's participation in local, pan-Arab and International competitions, collaboration with local and international musical/cultural societies and organizations.
• Assist and support local activities in the field of musical education and training: Discover and incubate talents, music related scholarships, music related fields such as acoustics and other stage/hall related effects, musical arts management, music recording, etc ….
• Upgrade the quality of Syrian music by development efforts to improve traditional musical instruments, usage of information technology and computer in music, musical publication and editing, musical research, establishment of music libraries, collection and archiving important Syrian musical heritage, etc ….

We Collaborate with

• Public and private cultural and educational bodies and establishments.
• Local and International non-profit music associations
• Local and international sponsors for the development of Syrian music activities
• Serious music education /training providers at various levels.
• Music and Arts related International Organizations
• Local and International orchestras, chorales, soloists, opera singers, conductors, composers, academicians, researchers, historians, (Syrians, expatriates and foreigners willing to participate in the development of music in Syria
• Others who might be interested in ECHO's activities in the cultural musical domain.

Founding Members

Dr. Talal AKILI
Dr. Nabil ASSWAD
Dr. Naila Al-ATRASH
Mr. Bashar AZMEH
Dr. Mary ELIAS
Mr. Ziad Al-JABRI
Mr. Munzer A. KHAIR
Mrs. Thala KHAIR
Dr. Arda KIRAGOSSIAN
Dr. Imad MOUSTAPHA
Dr. Sadek PHARAON
Dr. Hanan QASSAB HASAN
Mr. Vasken L. YACOUBIAN

Board of Directors

Mr.Bashar Azmeh, Chairman
Dr. Sadek Pharaon, Vice-Chairman
Mr. Vasken L. Yacoubian, Secretary
Mr.Munzer A. Khair, Treasurer
Dr. Talal Akili, Member