‏ILONA DANHO

Sacred Hymns & Traditional Folk Songs

Invitation to a Spiritual Celebration

Under the gracious patronage of
His Eminence Mor Polycarpus Dr. Augin Aydin
Archbishop of the Syriac Orthodox Church in the Netherlands

📅 Monday, 13 April 2026
🕓 14:00
📍 Mor Ephrem Syriac Monastery
Glanerbrugstraat 33
7585 PK Glane (Enschede)
The Netherlands

Free Admission

About the Celebration

An afternoon dedicated to sacred Syriac hymns and traditional folk songs, performed by Ilona Danho.

Rooted in ancient spiritual tradition and enriched by her international musical journey, Ilona brings a voice that bridges sacred heritage and contemporary presence. Her performance invites the audience into a space of reflection, devotion, and shared cultural memory.

The programme includes sacred Syriac chants and traditional songs, presented in an atmosphere of prayerful celebration and spiritual depth.

About Ilona Danho

Ilona studied at the High Institute of Music in Damascus and continued her musical formation at the National Conservatory of Lyon in France. She completed her Master’s degree at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, specializing in classical percussion and contemporary music.

She has performed internationally with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra under Daniel Barenboim, appearing at the Royal Albert Hall, BBC Proms, and the Berlin Philharmonic. She also participated in workshops led by Pierre Boulez.

Alongside her classical background, Ilona is devoted to vocal performance. As an Oriental singer, she performs Arabic and Syriac repertoire, preserving and revitalising ancient musical traditions. She founded the ensemble “Mesopotamian Fusion” in Stockholm and has performed across Europe, including at Expo Dubai.

🎹 Nizar Tarek — Piano, Bass Guitar, Arrangement & Sound Engineering

Nizar Tarek is a pianist, bass guitarist, music arranger, and sound engineer with more than 25 years of professional experience in performance, production, and musical direction. A graduate of the SAE Institute (2010), he has collaborated with leading artists across the Arab world, contributing as a performer, arranger, and producer on numerous recordings and live projects.

In addition to his work with major musical figures, Nizar Tarek has been active in composing and producing music and sound for television and film. He has been a member of the Artists Syndicate since 2006 and previously served as a lecturer at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, where he contributed to the training of emerging performers and creators in the field of music and sound.

For more information about access to the monastery, please visit:
https://morephrem.com/