(1938 - 2011)

Biography:

Walid Georges Gholmieh is a composer, conductor and musicologist. He was born on April 14, 1938 in Jdeydet- Marjeyoun and is married to Elham Georges Nadda. He obtained several academic records: MFA in Conducting, MFA in composition and PHD in Musicology. Walid Gholmieh won the most exclusive Medal for Peter and Paul and received the prize of Chevalier de ‘l'Ordre National du Cèdre’.

He was the founder of both the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra and the Lebanese National Arabic Oriental Orchestra.

On August 2, 2002, Dr. Gholmieh lead the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra at the Baalbeck International Festival.

On April 17, 2006, Dr. Gholmieh lead the Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabic Music in a captivating evening of Arabic music classics at the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation annual festival.

He has also headed the panel of judges on the Lebanese, television talent show, "Studio el Fan", which is credited for launching the careers of many Lebanese and Arab artists.

Dr. Gholmieh composed the Iraqi national anthem, "Ardulfurataini Watan" (Land of Two Rivers) that was in use from 1979 until 2003.

Walid Gholmieh, was featured on the latest album by Damon Albarn's virtual band, Gorillaz. The album, 'Plastic Beach,' was released on March 9 2010,With a track called White Flag.

Walid Gholmieh passed away on Tuesday June 7th, 2011 after a struggle with disease.

Local and International Festivals:

- Baalbeck International Festivals:
1963: Composer / Conductor
1964: Composer
1967: Composer / Conductor
1968: Composer / Conductor

- Ehden Festivals:
1963: Composer / Conductor
1964: Composer / Conductor

- Phoenicia Theater (First permanent theater in Lebanon)
1965: Composer / Conductor / general music adviser
1966: Composer / Conductor / general music adviser
1967: Composer / Conductor / general music adviser

- Cedars International Festivals:
1965: Composer / Conductor

- Nahr El-Wafa International Festivals:
1965: Composer / Conductor / general music adviser

- Byblos International Festivals:
1970: Founder/ Composer / Conductor
1971: Founder/ Composer / Conductor

- Official inauguration of the Opera House in Tahran – Iran – 1968 Composer/ Conductor.
- Olympia Theater, Paris 1968 – Composer/ Conductor.
- «Beaux-Arts» palace, Bruxelles 1968 – Composer / Conducator.
- National Theater, Charles Roi, Belgium 1968 – Composer / Conductor.
- Conference palace, Geneva – Switzerland 1971 - Composer / Conductor.
- Municipal Theater, Lausanne - Switzerland 1971- Composer/ Conductor.
- Jarach International Festivals – Jordan 1971 – Composer / Conductor.
- National Theater, Sidney and Millburn – Australia 1985 - Conductor.
- Official opening of the national Theater in Abou Dhabi 1985 – Conductor.
- Conducting the Wichita State Symphony Orchestra and Choir – USA.
- Conducting the Iraq National Symphony Orchestra 1978.
- Conducting the Greek National Symphony Orchestra
- Conducting the ERT Symphony Orchestra of Greece (1976 - 77 - 78 - 79 - 80 - 81- 82 - 83).

Musical Composition for Theater:

- «Majdaloun» - Director Roger Assaf.
- «O'rob Ma Yali» - Diretor Yaacoub Chedraoui.
- «Al- Sitara» - Director Michel Nabaa.
- «Mikhael Neihmé» - Director Yaacoub Chedraoui.
- «Charbel» - Director Raymond Jebara.
- «AL-Tartour» - Director Yaacoub Chedraoui.
- «Bala laeb Ya Wlad»- Director Yaacoub Chedraoui.
- «Ya Iskandaria Bahrek Ajayed» - Director Yaacoub Chedraoui.
- Karakalla Dance group

Musical Compositions for Cinema:

- «Secret of life» - documentary – Director Hikmat Saba.
- «The South» - documentary- Director Samir Nasri.
- «Kingdom of the poor» - feature – Director Phillip Akiki.
- «Passport to Oblivion» feature – Director David Nevin – MGM.
- «Mawal » feature – Director Mohammed Salman.
- «Kafarqassem » feature – Director Burhan Alawiya.
- «Beirut Ya Beirut» - feature – Director Maroun Baghdadi.
- «Al- Qadissiya» feature – Director Salah Abu Seif.
- Educational films for the United Nations.

Publications:

More than 21 published recordings labeled under Lebanese and international companies:
- Philips International Company.
- Polydor International Company.
- Polydor International Company.
- EMI International Company .
- Polydisc - Philips company
- Voice of the Orient (Lebanese company)
- Morico (Lebanese Company)
- Dunia phone (Lebanese Company)

Different Publications:

- Odessey «the green train» - 2 hours and 20 minutes – 1st canto – epic in the history of the Lebanese and Arabic music, published by Philips International company.
- Program music:
- «Marjeyoun» - published by Philips International Company and Polydisc Company.
- «Beirut» - published by Philips International and Polydisc Company.
- Maraya El-Hanin» (the life story of the well known writer Mikhael Neihmé) – published by Philips international company and polydisc company.
- Ana Al Alifu pedagogical concerning the Arabic Alphabet.
- Birthstone – published by Polydisc.
- Ethereal – published by Polydisc.

Symphonies:

- 1st Symphony: C. Major (Al Qadissiya) published by Philips International company and Polydisc company.
- 2nd Symphony: B. Flat Major (Al Mutanabbi) published by Pillips international company and Polydisc company.
- 3rd Symphony: G. Major (Al Yarmouk) published by Philips International company and Polydisc company.
- 4th Symphony: E. Flat Major (Al Chahid – the martyr) published by Philips International company and Polydisc company.
- 5th Symphony: G. Major (al Mawakeb- the processions) published by Philips international company and Polydisc company.
- Composer of the Iraqi National Anthem.
- Rearrangement of the Lebanese National Anthem, recorded with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.

Research, Treatises:

- On the Lebanese music.
- On the Syrian music.
- On the Libyan music. (Ministry of Culture of Libya from 1965 to 1968)
- On the Iraqi music, (Iraqi Ministry of culture from 1975 to 1985).
- Member of the international Musicological Society – Switzerland.
- Member of the Arab Academy of Music.
- Member of the Board of the Lebanese National higher Conservatory of Music.
- Vice-President of the Lebanese National Committee of music – UNESCO.
- Lecturer: the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music.
- Lecturer in different cultural and academic centers in Lebanon and the Arab World.
- Consultant and general adviser for the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Radio and Television establishment from 1974 to 1986.
- Visiting professor Wichita state University (Kansas) from 1975 to 1987.
- Author of different publications and musical articles and treatises in academic publications and press in Lebanon and the Arab World.
- President of the Board and president of the Lebanese National higher Conservatory of music since February 1991.
- Member of the Board of the Lebanese National Archives.
- Conductor – Beirut international Festivals – September 1994.
- One of the three authors of the book: «The Theory of oriental Arabic music».
- Member of the Lebanese National Committee for the Safeguarding of the cultural and natural heritage of south Lebanon.
- Vice-president of the Al-Bustan International Festival.
- Member of the Tyre International Festival Committee.
- Member of the Union of Lebanese Authors and Writers since 1991.
- Author and general coordinator for music, theatre and plastics arts education in the general revival plan of education in the republic of Lebanon since 1996.
- Member of the Lebanese committee for science, Education and Culture (UNESCO).
- Member of the executive committee for science, Education and Culture (UNESCO).
- Member of the High Committee of (Beirut the cultural city of the Arab World).