Saint Rafqa’s Children Choir was founded in 2010 under the direction of Sr. Marana Saad. The children choir is divided into two groups and is made up of 90 choristers whom ages vary from 6 until 15 years old. The children has demonstrated their skills in sacred and oriental music specifically Syro-Maronite sacred music which plays an essential role when celebrating the liturgy. Based on biblical faith, liturgical music helps the young choristers to deepen their faith in God and the Catholic church.
The Children’s choir has given many recitals in Lebanon: Mar’it miyyit Sini (Jbeil 2014), Christmas Spirit (Batrouniyyat 2013) Opéra Berlioz (France 2013) , Salatouka Maroun (Bkerki 2013), Batroun International Festival (2013), Te’la wtet3ammar (Smar Jbeil Festival 2012), Wa3di Ilak (Maad 2012), Alla Maana mnil 3ayli (Rabweh 2011), Ihkili 3an Baladi (With Army Orchestra, Jrabta 2011), Saint Daniel Jubilee (Hadath Jebbe 2010), and others concerts.
They participated in concerts alongside prominent orchestras and also received several invitations to local and international festivals. The children choir has contributed to numerous recitals across Lebanon and it has also participated in “La Contrebasse Voyageuse” in Montpellier, France (2013) and in Unesco, Beyrouth (2014), as well as “the Friendship between Choirs”. Recent performance engagements include:
Sister Marana Saad, OLM, is a nun of the Lebanese Maronite Order. She studied choral conducting under Maestro Walter Marzilli, at the Institute of Sacred Music in Rome. She has a PhD in monastic theology from St. Anselm’s University - Rome, and is currently a PhD candidate in sacred music at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik - Lebanon. In 2010, she founded Saint Rafqa’s Institute of Music, where she now teaches and conducts Saint Rafqa’s choir (young and children). She is renowned for her dynamic conducting style and compelling musical integrity.
Under the direction of Sr Marana Saad, Saint Rafqa’s Choir has established its reputation as one of the leading choirs in Lebanon. She directed several liturgical and musical celebrations: masses and concerts celebrated at the presidential palace in Baabda, at the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate in Bkerke, and at different churches and theatres all over Lebanon. Sister Marana and the choir have participated in concerts where she directed prominent orchestras and other leading choirs, and has received many invitations to festivals. She directed the children’s choir during their participation in “La Contrebasse Voyageuse” in Montpellier, France (June 2013), as well as the “Friendship between choirs” Festival in Cyprus (September 2013.) She conducted the orchestra and choir at Rafqa’s musical theatre, as well as the choir in their recording of many soundtracks for movies, such as “Ghadi” written by Georges Khabbaz. She also conducted Saint Rafqa’s choir and different orchestras in concerts with prominent artists such as Magida El Roumi and Charbel Rouhana.