Zaki Nassif Program Friends Club (FNPFC)
The launching of the “Zaki Nassif Program for Music Friends Club” took place on March 4, 2015 thanks to an initiative from member of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Ali Ghandour. A large number of personalities attended this event, expressing their interest to be members of the Club. The chairperson of “Zaki Nassif Program for Music”, Dr. Nabil Nassif delivered an opening speech in which he stated the Program’s objectives. He emphasized that the promotion of excellence in teaching and research in oriental music through the development of curricula and program studies, remains a fundamental goal of the Program. He recalled the experience of "AUB Institute of Music” between 1929 and 1949 which resulted in the music education of great artists such as Zaki Nassif and Toufic al Basha and many others… He hoped that, under the leadership of Trustee Ghandour, the Club would be able to support the reiteration of such experience. Next the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Patrick McGreevy, highlighted the efforts being currently carried to review and develop Music curricula in the department of Fine Arts and Art History, where music courses are extensively taught and a Minor in Music studies is being offered. Then, Dr Ali Ghandour mentioned that, while AUB graduate students who become distinguished innovators in the medical, engineering and other professional fields, the University is also preparing them also to be good citizens with a high degree of culture. In that respect, there is no doubt that the study of arts, and music in particular, make the students more cultured. He stressed also that their studying in particular Zaki Nassif’s music would make them better citizens, proud of their national and cultural heritage. After the distribution of the Club bylaws, extensive exchanges took place. The attendees praised the launching of the Club and discussed future actions that could be undertaken in view of the sustainability of the Zaki Nassif Program for Music.
The mission of the Club :
"The primary aim of the Club is to raise funds to support programs and activities that enhance the culture of Music at AUB and the region, particularly through sustaining the AUB Zaki Nassif Program for Music that was founded in December 2004, hereafter referred to as the Program and whose main mission consists of: Preserving, promoting and disseminating the oriental musical heritage, in particular that of Zaki Nassif and, contributing to the advancement of music education and research at AUB and in the region; awarding prizes, scholarships, and fellowships to students; organizing competitions among schools and university students in Lebanon to raise awareness about music in general and Zaki Nassif musical heritage in particular.”
BY LAWS النظام الداخلي