Anyone who knows Fr. Toufic Maatouk would agree he is totally passionate about music. His infectious passion, which is fortunately in harmony with the priesthood, turned him into one of the greatest ambassadors for classical music in Lebanon. This thorough dedication could not go unnoticed by Italy who, in appreciation, appointed him Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy on Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Flashback on Fr. Maatouk’s uncommon journey…

While some people go through life without passion, Father Maatouk — as for him — has been blessed with two: priesthood and music... like Vivaldi! His two vocations are so closely interwoven that he claims being totally both, priest and musician. “Personally, I have always believed that there is a point of light between faith and creativity. Like faith, music is a form of asceticism. It taught me rigor and willpower. My life as a religious is a daily invitation of witness in my workplace through music”.

So, for the last two decades, Fr. Maatouk has directed the Antonine University Choir with panache. His enthusiasm, energy, and conscientiousness have allowed the UA Choir, founded in 1978, to acquire a great reputation overseas and to perform on prestigious stages in Europe and the United States. In a word, the maestro has become, in the space of a few years, a prominent face of the Lebanese classical music in a country where this type of music is not greatly valued. But it takes more to discourage Fr. Maatouk: since the age of nine, he has followed his passion with consistency and sole desire to serve it in the best way possible. He practiced tirelessly, did his scales and singing exercises, obtained several diplomas and, last but not least, got his PhD in Musicology from the Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra (Rome); there, he also conducted and published several studies on the Syro-Maronite chants.

Such involvement is often rooted in the family culture. But once again, the Antonine father is atypical: there is no music lover among his relatives. Yet, he had his first musical experience in utero the day his mother instinctively resorted to it in order to calm baby’s kicks. Later, he had significant encounters, such as that of Fr. Albert Cherfane, the Antonine monk responsible for teaching music theory and the choir in his school, or that of his master, the late maestro Joseph Waked, also an Antonine father, who introduced him, a few years later, to classical music and instilled seriousness and perseverance into him. And when it comes to his noteworthy influences, one cannot ignore his famous Italian teachers, Ennio Nicotra and Donato Renzetti, who taught him orchestral and opera conducting techniques.

Armed with such a background, promising opportunities were quickly given to him. Without any calculation or career plan, Fr. Maatouk only grasped the ones matching his personality or taste. As of 2012, he would be invited everywhere: one day in Lebanon, the other in Rome or Los Angeles, and would multiply the experiments in order to deepen his musical knowledge. At that time, he wore several hats — with ease and no time to waste, and was appointed among other things: artistic director of the Beirut Chants Festival, head of the singing department at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music, guest conductor of the Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra, jury member to several prestigious competitions, not to mention the numerous collaborations he had with world-renowned artists and symphony ensembles.

It is to pay tribute to the great involvement of Fr. Maatouk and thank him for highlighting the musical heritage of the peninsula that the country of Mozart and Rossini gave him a knighthood. When we asked him why he has a special attachment to Italy and its composers, Fr. Maatouk gave us the following reply which happens to be an abstract of his heartfelt speech: “Dear Italy, you are the real focus of this evening. I owe you my passion for music; a passion that has deeply impacted my life. Italy is, as far as I am concerned, more than a country. It is a land where art, history, culture and music come together in a natural union which leaves an imprint on mankind’s heritage and is a source of inspiration for many ”… including Fr. Toufic Maatouk, of course!