Joanna Medawar Nachef
Personal information
Joanna Medawar Nachef
Music Conductor, Artistic Director, Music Director
Contact information (Private)
+1 310 3788456
Contact information (Work)
El Camino College
+1 310 6603593 - Ext: 3713
Community/Lebanon Impact
Joanna Medwar Nachef, recognized as the first woman conductor from the Middle East, was born in Beirut, Lebanon, before moving to Los Angeles in 1976. Through her founding of the Joanna Medawar Nachef Singers and leadership of the Torrance Pops Orchestra, she has actively promoted Lebanese musical traditions globally. Her roles at El Camino College and Peninsula Community Church have not only shaped local musicians but also enriched cultural diversity in Southern California. Dr. Nachef has showcased Lebanon's musical heritage through performances in Russia and appearances at Carnegie Hall. Her dedication as a "Citizen Diplomat" for the US State Department and involvement with the LA/Beirut Sister City Organization underscore her commitment to cultural exchange and global harmony, recognized with awards such as the Daughters of The American Revolution's State Americanism Medal.
Education
Education:
- Doctorate Degree, Musical Arts/Choral and Instrumental Conducting, 1983-1985, University of Southern California, United States of America.
- Master's Degree, Music/Church Music, 1981-1983, University of Southern California, United States of America.
- Bacehlor Degree, Music/Piano Performance, 1978-1980, California State University at Dominguez Hills, United States of America.
Work history
Previous Professions:
- Artistic Director/Conductor of the Torrance Pops Orchestra
- Professor and Director of Choral Music, 1996 - present, El Camino Community College.
- Adjunct faculty (Professor) at the Humanities Department, 1993 - present, California State University at Dominguez Hills.
- Music Director, 1992 - present, California Academy of Mathematics and Science.
- Artistic Director and Conductor, 1991 - present, Los Cancioneros Master Chorale.
- Choir Director, 1980 - present, Peninsula Community Church.
- Dr. Nachef is Director of Choral & Orchestral Activities at El Camino College
- She is founder and Artistic Director of JOANNA MEDAWAR NACHEF SINGERS and Artistic Director/Conductor of the newly formed Torrance Pops Orchestra.
- Since 1980, she has served as the Choir Director at Peninsula Community Church.
- Dr. Nachef has directed both locally and in guest appearances in motion pictures, and toured nationally and internationally with her performing groups. Over the past 30 years, her concert tours included the U.S, Canada, Hawaii, Eastern Europe, Vienna, Lebanon and most recently Russia. Her guest conducting appearances have included 6 performances at Carnegie Hall, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, National Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, Al Bustan Summer Festival, and “Beirut Chants Festival”.
- She is a speaker and “Citizen Diplomat” for the US State Department, a charter board member and past president for the LA/Beirut Sister City Organization and alumnae of the U.S. Institute of Peace, Washington D.C.
Major Achievements
Publications (Books, Articles, Reports, etc.):
- Medawar Nachef, J. (2010). Arabic choral series. Monrovia, California: Emerson Music Publications.
- Medawar Nachef, J. (2010). Ambassadors of harmony: original choral composition by Dr. Nachef. Monrovia, California: Emerson Music Publications.
- Medawar Nachef, J. (2003). Reflections of a Beacon: ethnic and multicultural repertiore and standards chair. Cantate California, 15 (2), 16-17.
- Medawar Nachef, J. (2002). An interview with Moses Hogan: R&S chair for multicultural and ethnic choral music. Cantate California, 13 (2), 6-7.
- Medawar Nachef, J. (1997). Whom to ask? where to go? is this an authentic sound?: multicultural perspectives.Cantate California, 7 (2), 6.
Major achievements:
- Over the past 30 years, her concert tours included the U.S, Canada, Hawaii, Eastern Europe, Vienna, Lebanon and most recently Russia
- Scheduled to give her 7th guest conducting appearance at Carnegie Hall in 2024
- Traveled under the auspices of the United States Department of State as a speaker and citizen diplomat to implement the "Global Education through Technology" project (GETT) in Italy, Ukraine and Lebanon.
- In the summer of 2019, she coordinated, led and conducted her first US Dept. of State Grant-Funded international concert tour to Russia with her choral group, JMNS. JMNS was the first American Choir to be featured in the St. Petersburg 2019 “Singing World Festival” and their rousing performances of Gospel Music and Spirituals received high acclaim, both in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
- On May 25, 2024, Dr. Nachef will give her 7th guest conducting appearance at Carnegie Hall, with the EL Camino College Symphony, ECC Choirs, Joanna Medawar Nachef Singers and Sons of Thunder Choir.
Exhibitions, lectures & performances:
- Guest Conductor, “Haydn’s: Lord Nelson Mass” performance, Mid America Productions Series, Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, New York, May 2018.
- Guest Conductor, “Haydn’s: Organ Mass” performance, Mid America International Productions Series, St. Peter’s Cathedral, Vienna, Austria, June 2016.
- Conducting debut as the first female conductor in the Arab Region, “Handel’s: Messiah”, Beirut Chants Festival, Lebanon, November 2013.
- Guest Conductor, “Beethoven’s: Symphony #8”, “Mozart’s: Vesperae Solennes” and featured George Tomb, youngest Lebanese composer with his composition “Hope”, the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, Beirut, Lebanon, November 2014.
- Guest Conductor, “Rutter’s: Mass of the Children” performance, Mid America Productions Series, Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, New York, May 2015.
- Guest Conductor, “Faure’s: Requiem” performance, Mid America Productions Series, Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, New York, May 2013.
- Guest Conductor, "Mozart's: Vesperae Solennes" performance organzied by Mid America Productions Series, Stern Auditorium, Carnigie Hall, New York, May 2010.
- Living Legend Honoree and Guest Conductor, "Living Legends Concert" organized by the African Diaspora of Sacred Music and Musicians Series, Peninsula Community Church, Rancho Palos Verdes, California, April, 2010.
- Lecturer and Conductor, "Gospel in summer Time" peformance organized by Al-Bustan Festival, Emile Bustani Auditorium, Lebanon, July 2009.
- Guest Conductor, "Ambassadors of Harmony" performance organzied by the Mid America Productions Series, Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, New York, March 2007.
- Chorus Conductor and performer, "Andrea Bocelli's Las Vegas Performance", MGM Auditorium, Las Vegas, Nevada, December, 2007.
Accomplishments
Distinctions:
- South Bay Magazine, Women’s Edition, Featuring 50 successful women in business, 2016 and 2018
- Peninisula People Magazine, Cover Stories, 2015 and 2018
- HOME Magazine, February 2018, “Joanna Nachef Ist Maestra of the Middle East” Article.
- Featured in the "100 Influential Lebanese Figures around the world", 2017 publication.
- Recognized as the first woman conductor of Lebanese-Arab descent.
Awards:
- She was the first recipient of TPAC 2019 “Peace and Harmony” Award
- She was featured in the 2017 Book "100 Influential Lebanese Figures around the world"
- Mu Phi Epsilon, Prestigious ACME Awardee, 2017.
- Daughters of The American Revolution’s 2015 State Americanism Medal.
- California Ladies Organization 2015 Mother of the Year Award.
- El Camino College’s Distinguished Faculty Award 2014-2015.
- Lebanese Ladies Cultural Society, Lifetime Achievement Award, 2012.
- The "Living Legends" Award by the African Diaspora of Sacred Music and Musicians for her efforts in promoting nationally and internationally two living legends that have preserved cultural awareness of musical exchange, April 2010.
- "Making a Difference" Director's Award by the Daily Breeze Newspaper for her contirbutions to the arts as a conductor in the South Bay Area, Los Angeles, California, April 2008.
- Global Peace and Security Certificate Awardee by the U.S. Institute of Peace for her participation in the community college faculty and administrators seminar on "Global Peace and Security in Community Colleges and the Communities They Serve, June 2008.
- "Excellence in Arts" Award by the City of Torrance Cultural Arts Commission for her cultural events/performances/lectures/choral exhanges and musical contributions to the Torrance community and its surrounding cities, April 2005.
- She has received numerous lifetime achievement and prestigious awards which most recently include the Daughters of The American Revolution’s 2015 State Americanism Medal, El Camino College’s Distinguished Faculty Award 2014-2015, was featured in the 2017 Book "100 Influential Lebanese Figures around the world", and was the first recipient of TPAC 2019 “Peace and Harmony” Award.
Competences & Skills
Field(s) of Expertise:
- Conducting
- Choral Music
- Vocal Music
- Church Music
- Music History
- Music Education
Languages:
- English
- Arabic
- French