Artist in Residence
Rabih Lahoud is the new Artist-in-Residence at the Monheim Triennale. Effective October 1, he took over this position from Achim Tang, who has fulfilled this role to our great satisfaction over the past six years.
Rabih Lahoud, who has won numerous awards (including the German Jazz Prize and the WDR Jazz Prize), is the ideal representative of the Monheim Triennale’s program. Born in Beirut and now living in Monheim, the musician and educator is the best possible bridge builder between the local and international music scenes. He became known as the singer of the international groups “Masaa” and “Eternal Voyage” and as the choir director of the vocal ensemble M.A.M.M.
Lahoud has been closely associated with the Triennale since its inception. His contribution this year, “Colors of Unison,” which closed The Festival in the Old Town Church, is particularly memorable.
When asked what connects him to the Triennale, he replied: “The togetherness, the opening up of music to the people here in the city. (…) There are so many projects linked to the Triennale in which choirs, school classes, and amateur musicians participate, always on an equal footing with the international musicians. That’s something very special.”
Festival director Reiner Michalke is convinced that Lahoud will continue the great work started by Achim Tang. In this context, he thanks Achim Tang, who, with his enthusiasm and versatility, has inspired young and adult amateurs for the festival and improvised music since 2019: “Achim Tang has succeeded in bringing music that is not always easy to understand closer to large sections of the urban community in a sympathetic and playful way, breaking down prejudices. In doing so, he has established a strong connection to the content of the Triennale. We are all very grateful to him for this.”
Biography Rabih Lahoud
German-Lebanese singer and composer Rabih Lahoud is one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary jazz and the transcultural music scene. Combining Arabic musical culture, European classical music, and jazz, he has developed his own artistic language that has gained international recognition.
As the singer of the multi-award-winning band Masaa, he has released five albums on Traumton Records and has received the German Jazz Prize, the WDR Jazz Prize, the RUTH World Music Prize, and the German Record Critics’ Award, among others. Lahoud is also a member of the Trickster Orchestra (conducted by Cymin Samawatie & Ketan Bhatti), which was awarded the German Jazz Prize in the large ensemble category in 2022. Concert engagements have taken him as a soloist to renowned orchestras and festivals, including the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, the Bremen Chamber Philharmonic, the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, and the Monheim Triennale.
In addition to his artistic activities, Lahoud is a dedicated educator. He was a visiting professor at the Jazz Institute Berlin and has taught at music academies in Dresden, Mannheim, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, and Essen, among others. His focus is on voice training, ensemble work, transcultural music education, and microtonality in singing.
He is also active as an author and composer: his book “Stimme im Flow” (Voice in Flow) is dedicated to artistic vocal technique, flow methodology, and creativity, while his compositions range from a cappella works and cantatas to large-scale projects with orchestra.
Rabih Lahoud’s work combines cultural diversity, artistic excellence, and pedagogical experience—qualities that make him a defining voice in contemporary music.