Following the Rap & Beyond Residency and the Music Production Residency, Beirut and Beyond is launching an open call for a new Live Instrumental Music Residency led by musician and composer Hazem Chahine.
The residency is directed at Lebanon-based professional musicians and experienced practitioners working in vocal performance, instrumental music, and/or composition.
WHAT TO EXPECT
During the residency, participants will work on:
- Performance, interpretation, and individual musical expression
Score reading and collective ensemble playing - Maqam, melody, phrasing, intonation, and melodic development
- Rhythm and musical form
- Improvisation and the development of musical ideas
- Composition and arrangement
- Developing participants’ own compositions, sketches, or works in progress
- Collective creation and ensemble building
- Preparing material and rehearsing for a live festival presentation
The specific repertoire and musical material will be selected and developed by Hazem Chahine according to the musicians, instruments, and voices that make up the final group.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To apply, you must:
- Be a professional musician or experienced practitioner
- Work in vocal performance, instrumental music, and/or musical composition
- Have an academic and/or practice-based musical background
- Have sufficient proficiency in reading musical notation
- Be able to interpret and perform from written musical scores
- Demonstrate strong technical ability and musical craftsmanship through your submitted work
- Be based in Lebanon
- Be over 18 years old
- Be open to collaboration, experimentation, and collective creation
- Be available for the full residency and festival period, from Monday, November 30 to Sunday, December 6, 2026.
** Participants are expected to commit to the full duration of the residency.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants are required to submit a clear audio recording of a musical piece performed by themselves, either as a solo performance or in collaboration with other musicians.
The submitted work should clearly demonstrate the applicant’s technical ability, musical language, and approach to performance. Video submissions are also accepted, as long as they do not exceed three minutes.
A selection committee will review all eligible applications and select six participants based on the quality of their submitted work, technical and musical ability, potential, and suitability for the collective residency process.
The selection process will seek to create a balanced group of musicians and will actively encourage and prioritize strong participation by women.
Apply by filling out this form before Tuesday 20 October 2026.
This residency is part of the MASAR program, and is funded by the Institut Francais.
ABOUT THE MENTOR
Egyptian oud player and composer
Born in Alexandria in 1978, Hazem Chahine began studying music in 1991 under renowned oud masters including Mohamed Afifi, Abdel Moneim Arafa, Abdo Dagher, and Naseer Shamma. He graduated with distinction from the Higher Institute of Arabic Music in 1999 and later from the Arab Oud House, where he taught oud for five years. He has also served as an oud professor at the Egyptian Opera House and earned a diploma in Music Sciences in 2024.
In 2001, Chahine won the title of “Best Oud Player in the Middle East” at the International Oud Competition in Beirut. He has since received several honors, including recognition at Egypt’s Arab Music Festival and an award for Best Original Music at the Alexandria International Theatre Festival.
He founded Eskenderella in 2005 and later established the Hazem Chahine Band. His discography includes Bread and Salt (2006) and Things I Miss (2007).
Chahine has performed at major festivals across the Middle East and Europe and collaborated with artists including Ziad Rahbani, Georges Moustaki, and flutist Nesma Galal. He has also composed music for theater and film.
His latest projects include a musical album produced by Ziad Rahbani, released in April 2025, and Flesh and Blood, an upcoming album supported by an AFAC grant.
