Oussama Mhanna

Born in Lebanon and based in Paris, Oussama Mhanna is a conductor and choirmaster whose direction stands out for its eclecticism and passion for creation. Graduating unanimously from the École Normale de Musique de Paris in orchestral conducting and certified by the Accademia Direttori di Coro in Palermo, he navigates with ease between the classical repertoire and the most demanding contemporary scores. In 2020, he founded Ensemble Dynamique, a collective of high-level young musicians dedicated to promoting the music of today.

His international career has led him to conduct prestigious ensembles such as the Orchestre de l'Opéra de Massy, the United Strings of Europe, and the Jeune Chœur de Paris. Beyond the podium, Oussama is a fervent advocate for musical democratization. Whether through the Orchestre à l'école program, collaborations with the Fondation Cartier at the Milan Triennale, or interdisciplinary projects like 'Hamilton Rise Up,' he strives to break down barriers between genres and audiences. A regular collaborator with artists from diverse horizons (from Martina Batič to singer Pomme), he embodies a new generation of conductors for whom music is above all a vehicle for dialogue and social inclusion.

For his residency at Rocabella, Oussama Mhanna proposes a project entitled 'Polyphonies Méditerranéennes: Un Dialogue entre Rives' (Mediterranean Polyphonies: A Dialogue Between Shores). This stay is conceived as a laboratory for choral and instrumental creation exploring the resonances between his Lebanese heritage and the identity of the French Riviera. Drawing inspiration from the serenity and openness to the sea of the estate, he wishes to compose and structure a program blending contemporary pieces with vocal traditions of the Near East.

The challenge of this residency is to harness the natural acoustics of Rocabella's villas and gardens to imagine an immersive performance. Oussama will work on spatial sound design, using the different levels of the estate to create a dialogue between voices and instruments in a 'concert-promenade' atmosphere. This project also aims to include a pedagogical dimension by organizing a conducting workshop open to young talents from the region, fostering transmission and sharing. At Rocabella, Oussama Mhanna aspires to create an ephemeral work where the Mediterranean surf becomes the metronome of an unprecedented musical encounter, celebrating the union of cultures around a single shore.