Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanna Medawar Nachef.
Hi Joanna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Recognized as the first woman conductor from the Middle East. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, my family moved to Los Angeles in 1976. My educational journey began at CSUDH where I earned a Bachelor in Music in piano performance 1980. Five years later I received my Doctor of Musical Arts and Master in Music degrees in Choral Music from the University of Southern California… My professional journey as a professor of music and director of choral activities has been since 1996 at El Camino College in Torrance. I have also served on the faculty of California State University Dominguez Hills, California Academy of Mathematics and Science and have been the choir director at Peninsula Community Church since 1980. In 2015 I formed JOANNA MEDAWAR NACHEF SINGERS, a semi-professional choral group, and in 2017 I was appointed as Artistic Director for the newly formed Torrance Pops Orchestra.
I am blessed to share my life with my husband of 34 years, Hani Nachef, and we have two amazing children, Hannah and Timothy.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As the first Lebanese/American female conductor, I have faced many challenges. My approach as a woman conductor takes the balancing act of a commanding presence and a winning personality. I have always chosen to take the podium with the attitude of collaboration and the complete knowledge of the weight of responsibility that lies strictly on my shoulders. My aim is never to imitate or replace a male conductor but to represent myself as a refined, well-prepared and attractive female conductor with a keen sense of fashion!
As a career woman, wife and mother, my journey has been most challenging yet rewarding. With God’s grace, sheer determination, sacrifice, compromise and a true supportive husband, balance is achieved and sustained.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have directed both locally and in guest appearances in motion pictures and toured nationally and internationally with my performing groups. Over the past 30 years, my concert tours included the U.S, Canada, Hawaii, Eastern Europe, Vienna, Lebanon and most recently Russia. My guest conducting appearances have included six performances at Carnegie Hall, Al Bustan Summer Festival, “Beirut Chants Festival”, and the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra.
I have served as 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.
I have 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.
In the summer of 2019, I 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.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Paving a new path as a female conductor was the biggest risk a young Lebanese immigrant would take in the early 1980s. I realized early on that I have been blessed with the gift of music, a drive to excel at every task taken and an eagerness to make a difference in the world. Such traits, coupled with sheer grit, hard work and a solid faith, allowed me to take risks with an assurance that if it is God’s will then all will be well.
My motto has been: “‘Life is a performance and not a rehearsal.’ I choose to give 100% today and every day, completely committed to investing all my efforts at every opportunity. My desire is to seek excellence and not perfection and encourage everyone to become disciplined, determined and hard-working individuals who are able to lead productive lives through the amazing power of music.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: JMNSingers.com
- Instagram: Joannamedawarnachefsingers
- Facebook: Joanna Medawar Nachef Singers
- Youtube: Joanna Nachef
Image Credits:
Joey Ikemoto Photography MidAmerica Productions
