Nizar Ballout, also known as Nizar Fares under his stage name, is a musician and musicologist. Since year 2000, he became known as a recording artist among Middle Eastern communities, specialized in early and modern Christian Music repertoires (Syriac, Assyrian, Chaldean and Arabic), with some 19 albums for kids, youth and adults.
As a PhD in musicology, he’s invited globally to sing and lecture on Middle Eastern music and music theory, Arabic singing techniques and early Christian music.
In January 2016, he joined Boston College Music department as the director of “ASTAZA!” - the Middle East Music Ensemble. And since, Astaza! has attracted BC students along with community members from all over New England.
Called a “Musicianary” -a musician on mission, his music work for children has been adopted and taught in numerous elementary schools, community centers and music academies in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and Iraq. Therefore, after many years of serving in the field, furthermore with the refugees’ crisis; He launched in 2017 his own non-profit organization; Nizar Fares Global Ministry (NFGM), serving Refugees in the Middle East and those scattered in the five continents. The vision is to serve people through the music that has a true therapeutic effect. One of the programs created is the “Overseas Sponsoring Program for Talented Displaced Children and Youth”, among other musical projects, mission trips, and relief work (www.NFGM.org).
