Our People

 

Our Founder – Rajai F. Khouri​

 Rajai is an Architect by profession and a keen music lover. He is a trained opera singer who has been singing since he was 15. Rajai, who has been living in London for more than 40 years, has performed in the Middle East, Europe and the United States, both on stage and in Concerts.

“My love for opera and sacred music has led me to meet many
talented artists in the music world, as well as many patrons active in spreading the message of peace.” Coupled with this love of music, his project development work in the Middle East through The AIC Group of Consultants which he had founded, led him to play an active role in The Peace Process starting with the Oslo Agreement.

Born in Jerusalem, he lived in Lebanon throughout his childhood and part of his adult life where he studied at the International College and the American University of Beirut. Seeing first-hand the unfolding troubles in that part of the world, and having suffered from the wars there, he became involved with many political and religious personalities, all active in finding ways of achieving lasting peace in the Holy Land. “I have supported peace as a businessman and as a musician for many years now.

In 1982 he moved to London and ten years later started establishing a UK Charity Trust to support peace and to also promote young artists from the Levant countries and the Western world.

In December 2007 the Trust produced its first CD ‘A Message of Peace at Christmas’ sung by Rajai. “I am releasing this compilation because I believe it is time for me to promote this message of peace through my singing and music. Music transcends all boundaries and I believe that vocal music, in particular, is one of the strongest and most effective ways of spreading this essential and noble message.”

Rajai wishes to promote the message of peace, love and hope in the Holy Land and in Lebanon and the other neighbouring countries. He believes that peace specifically in Jerusalem is vital for achieving peace in the rest of the world.

Our Board of Trustees

Founding Trustee and Chairman

Mr Rajai Khouri

Trustees

Miss Christie Haddad

Mr Toby Purser

Mrs Leila Buheiry

Ms Margo Arsane

Advisors to the Trust

Dr Sara Alqaiwani

Ms Bushra Al Turk

Ms Miranda Heldt

Dr Toufic Maatouk

Mr Basel Saleh

Mr Julian Van Malleart

Mr James Watt

Our Production Team

Artistic & Musical Director

Toby Purser

Production Director

Peter Brightman

Producer

Gian Galeazzo Ganzarolli

Middle East Music Advisor

Basel Saleh

Middle East Music Producer

Tala Tutunji

Resident Composer

Bushra El-Turk

Our Partners and Sponsors

  • Royal College of Music, London
  • Beirut Chants Festival
  • Beiteddine Festival
  • Positive Planet
  • Caravan
  • Children Cancer Center Lebanon
  • AMAR
  • St John’s Eye Hospital
  • Kayany Foundation
  • Arab Women Association, UK
  • The Lebanese American University, Lebanon
  • Well Being, UK
  • Cadogan Hall, London
  • Shangri La Hotel, The Shard, London
  • Consolidated Contractors Company, UK
  • Barclays Wealth
  • Blom Bank Group
  • Capital Trust Group
  • KA Investments and Developments
  • Bank of Beirut
  • Chatila
  • Medgulfs