The Jazal Choir is the Center for Arabic Culture’s Adult Choir, welcoming members from all backgrounds to sing in Arabic and become immersed in Arabic culture through folkloric and contemporary Arabic music. Speaking Arabic is not a requirement. 

The Jazal Choir’s mission includes the following goals:

• Introducing the community to the Arabic and Middle Eastern music, musicians and singers
• Educating about Arabic quarter tones, scales and singing styles
• Introducing Arabic and Middle Eastern music to American society at large
• Encouraging members from all backgrounds to join without the requirement of speaking Arabic
• Participating in concerts around Massachusetts and beyond to spread the word about the rich Arabic musical heritage
• Singing in harmony and a cappella, enriching members’ musical backgrounds and and building a stronger knowledge of the Arabic language

Alma Richeh, LL.M. Executive Director & Choir Director

Alma was born in Damascus, Syria and holds a law degree from Damascus University and an LL.M. master’s degree in international legal studies from the American University, Washington College of Law in Washington D.C.

She worked at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Damascus as an advocate to determine the refugee Status. In Syria, in 2001-2005, Alma studied singing with and trained by the best music and singing teachers at the Syrian Higher Institute for Music. Between 2000 and 2008, Alma was a conductor of Al Farah Choir at the Lady of Damascus Church in Damascus. She conducted the Choir’s youth division concentrating on concerts to fundraise for humanitarian causes and children’s rights.

During her LL.M Studies, she worked as a teaching assistant to Arab League Ambassador to the UN and Professor Clovis Maksoud at the American University, Washington College of Law.

After moving to Boston, she worked as a research intern at the Boston Consortium for Gender Security and Human Rights at the University of Massachusetts. Her research concentrated on the rights of women in Arab and Middle countries from legal, historic, cultural, religious and humanitarian perspectives.

In Boston, Alma is the Executive Director of the Center for Arabic Culture (CAC), a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating the Arabic Culture and an Arab American experience through education and the arts.

She teaches Arabic culture and international law courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the College of the Holy Cross.

Alma is the founder and choir director of the Children’s Choir and Jazal Choir at the Center for Arabic Culture in Boston. She is on the board of the Mansfield Local Cultural Council.