16 Facts About Naji Hakim

Naji Subhy Paul Irenee Hakim is a Franco-Lebanese organist, composer, and improviser.

Naji Hakim studied the organ under Jean Langlais at the Conservatoire de Paris, and succeeded Olivier Messiaen as titular organist at the Eglise de la Sainte-Trinite, Paris, holding this position from 1993 to 2008.

Naji Hakim's works have been published by Schott Music, UMP, Combre, Editions Alphonse Leduc, ABRSM, Fitzsimons, Editions Gerard Billaudot, and American Carillon.

Naji Subhy Paul Irenee Hakim was born into a Catholic family on 31 October 1955 in Beirut, Lebanon; to a businessman father, Subhy, and his wife Katy Hakim.

Naji Hakim's family were music-loving: his father played the mandolin and sang; his mother is an amateur pianist, and he and his three siblings studied a variety of instruments of different types.

Naji Hakim was able to pull out all of the organ's stops before playing a single note.

Naji Hakim, who received permission to practise for half an hour every week, then taught himself the organ by using the method books of Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens, Harold Gleason and Marcel Dupre.

Naji Hakim was advised that a musical career in Lebanon would have not been suitable by the present circumstances.

Naji Hakim took up a position as substitute organist at Sainte-Odile in Paris and prepared to enter the Conservatoire de Paris, failing the entrance examinations in 1976.

Naji Hakim then met Jean Langlais, organist of Sainte-Clotilde and an esteemed composer and organist, and began private lessons in organ playing and improvisation with him in a relationship that lasted about ten years.

Naji Hakim was in the classes of Rolande Falcinelli, Roger Boutry, Jean-Claude Henry, Marcel Bitsch, Jacques Casterede and Serge Nigg ; as well as that of Langlais himself.

Naji Hakim left in 1993 when he succeeded Olivier Messiaen after the latter's death at the Eglise de la Sainte-Trinite, Paris, from 1993 until 2008.

Naji Hakim serves as Professor of Musical Analysis at the Conservatoire National de Region de Boulogne-Billancourt, and visiting professor of organ, improvisation, analysis, and composition at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

Naji Hakim has won many awards for performance, improvisation, and composition.

Naji Hakim has been the recipient of prizes at the International Organ Competitions held in Beauvaiss, Haarlem, Lyon, Nuremberg, St Albans, Chartres, Strasbourg, and Rennes.

Naji Hakim is a polyglot and speaks six languages: French, Arabic, English, Basque, Spanish, and German.