FAMA 2018

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A teacher, educational consultant and life-long learner, Lilli Audeh has impacted the lives of thousands of students and faculty members. After returning to Canada in 2017 with her 2 sons, Lilli has continuously volunteered in helping the Canadian Arabic Orchestra in any area that requires an open mind and an eye for detail.

With 25+ years of teaching and training experience in Canada and the Middle East, Lilli launched an educational and wellness start-up to help teachers and individuals from diverse backgrounds grow personally and professionally. She is a firm believer in the words of Sarah Dessen: “Music is the great uniter… An incredible force… Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common.”

Lilli’s focus is on positively changing mindsets, one step at a time.

Ahmed Kufaishi is an Iraqi-born Canadian who discovered his love for classical Arabic music when he attended concerts in Cairo’s opera house and was yearning for these types of cultural events when he made Canada his home in 2002. Ahmed’s journey with the CAO began in November 2015 when he was enchanted by the magic of what Lamees and Wafa were creating, a performance of classical Arabic music in a church in the heart of Toronto. 

Through the CAO, Ahmed fulfilled his dream to learn Classical Arabic Violin in 2017, and has supported the team since then through lessons, volunteering, touring with them and finally having the honour of being selected to the CAO Board of Directors.

Ahmed is a civil engineer by training, and has taken IT as a profession. In 2013 Ahmed founded his own firm, Alary Technologies, an Apple-authorised service centre specialising in the support of Apple computers and devices. Ahmed is also a Program Advisory Committee Member at Durham College and is a regular speaker at community events in the GTA.

Mouhanad has a degree in Commerce and International Business from Carleton University, Canada. He plays the Oud and is a developing performer. His strategic thinking, team building, management and ability to execute within resource constraints has been proven in almost two decades in business operations and in leading disaster management responses on both a national and international scale. An entrepreneur with a unique ability to empower teams, Mouhanad ensures our projects and overall experiences for our partners, collaborators, artists, and audiences are executed with efficiency and a personal touch.

An engineer by trade, with a career in civil engineering, woodworking sales and business management, Omar decided to hang his hat and follow his passion and delve into the world of Music. Building on his experience spanning nearly 30 years, most of which focused on business management, Omar brings to the CAO a wealth of knowledge and expertise in planning, sales and management.

Having lived in four continents, Omar’s diverse cultural education, coupled with his life long passion for the performing arts, music, social justice and community service, make for a combination that blends well with CAO’s mission and vision. Omar is an avid volunteer who believes in working to give back to the community and to help forward intercultural dialogue and understanding.

Born in Toronto in 1976, Lamees lived most of her life in Jordan and Palestine. From a very young age, Lamees showed interest in music, playing little pieces by ear from the age of 4. She received her first piano lessons in Jordan at the age of 7; completing the 8 grades of music theory and Practical Examinations with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Lamees was the first Piano student in Jordan to obtain the Advanced Certificate of the ABRSM and passed it with distinction when she was 20 years old. She pursued her studies with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and became the first student in Jordan to obtain an LRSM in Piano Teaching. In the year 2000 Lamees graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK with a Masters in Music Performance and moved to Palestine to teach Piano, Music Theory, History of Western Music and Piano Music Literature at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music; Lamees later became the Academic Director of its Jerusalem Branch which held over 20 teachers and 200 students.

Lamees performed in Jordan, England, Scotland, Tunisia, and in various cities in Palestine. She has also composed a few pieces for small ensembles and is currently working on creating a piano syllabus for beginners.

Born in Jerusalem, Wafa Al Zaghal with the sound of classical Arabic music played by his father who was passionate about it. Wafa studied the Qanun at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, and later became a music instructor there, training and leading many Arabic Music. Having performed with many famous Arab musicians such as: Marwan Abado, Anouar Ibrahim, Simon Shaheen, Ahmad Al Khatib, Charbel Rohana and Nizar Rohana, Wafa moved to Canada in 2013 and co founded the Canadian Arabic Orchestra with his wife Lamees Audeh.