Gardenia Choir

A women’s choir that challenges war and celebrates culture and traditions.

After four years of war in Syria, a group of musicians and singers wanted to stand up to the unseen war outcomes that spread in their country, so they established a professional choir that does more than present music, but also works on the social level to spread the spirit of peace and forgiveness in their society.

In the middle of 2016, the Gardenia Choir performed their first concerts at the Oprah house in Damascus, and until mid 2018, the choir had a rich musical repertoire between jazz, classic and traditional eastern and Syrian songs, and it was the first Syrian women’s choir that had both a musical and humanitarian agenda.

The idea started from a conversation between the soprano singer Ghada Harb and the harp player Safana Baqleh with one vision in mind: establish an artistic project with a mission for love, forgiveness and life, based on the needs of Syrian society during the time of killing and war.

So after much hard work, the Gardenia Choir was established from professional choir singers and instrument players. The harmony arrangements were made for two, three or four Alto and Soprano pitches.   

The choir leader and technical director has significant experience in classical singing, which she studied academically at the higher institute for music in Damascus, and also in the field of choir leadership, which she studied under Russian experts and has practiced it since 2011. The administrative director of the choir, as well as the individual responsible for the arrangements, musician Safana Baqleh, has years of experience in choir singing and playing the harp.

And beside the 20 singers of the choir, there are around 10 players who play different instruments like the piano, cello, drums and guitar.