Jordanian Soprano Zeina Barhoum will fly to Beijing to attend the 1st Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, taking place from May 14-17. Barhoum was invited to the Conference as the founder of Amman Opera Festival (AOF) and The Alcántara music and art series, which both aim to bridge cultures through art and music.

The Conference will have an opening ceremony and six subforums. Attended by Asian and international leaders from relevant international organizations and delegates from cultural and humanity sectors, the Conference aims to promote cultural exchanges between Asian civilizations and boost cooperation to create one community with a shared future. Barhoum's duet song Si Lu Meng Xiang (The Dream of Silk Road) with Beijing Award winning Tenor Wang Chuanyue's from her Alcántara II "Zeina in China" album plays a great role in bringing cultures together, embodying the core of Zeina's message.

As part of her April tour, Barhoum performed heartwarming pieces from her new album Alcántara II "Zeina in China" at Dubai Opera, accompanied by the Edward Said National Conservatory Orchestra and Banat Al-Quds. In December 2018, Barhoum also performed a spectacular programme at the Music in the Studio show, held at Dubai Opera. The programme featured a master class led by Barhoum along with Cuban pianist Marcos Madrigal and Latin percussionist Maher Hanhan. The event also witnessed the Dubai launch of Barhoum's new album Alcántara II "Zeina in China" along with signed copies of the album. This year, Barhoum will continue her tour around the globe to support her new album Alcántara II "Zeina in China".

Alcántara II "Zeina in China" will be available soon in Virgin Megastore Middle East & North Africa and on different online platforms.

In the beginning of April, Barhoum launched her album Alcántara II "Zeina in China" in a red carpet concert at the Al Hussein Cultural Center in Ras Al Ain, Amman, Jordan under the royal patronage and presence of HRH Princess Muna Al Hussien. Supported by the Greater Amman Municipality in collaboration with the Embassy of China in Jordan, the concert was followed by an album signing and private reception. Featuring Beijing Award winning Tenor Wang Chuanyue and the National Music Conservatory Orchestra conducted by resident conductor Mohamed Siddiq and Guest Conductor Massimo Taddia, the concert was highlighted by the duet song Si Lu Meng Xiang (The Dream of Silk Road), performed by Barhoum and Chuanyue. The concert also featured a special piece by young Jordanian composer Dina Tahamouqa, along with dance pieces by Fred Astaire.

On October 25, 2018, Barhoum represented Jordan in the closing ceremony of the Arab Art Festival in Chengdu, China, where she sang Si Lu Meng Xiang (The Dream of Silk Road) with Tenor Wang Chuanyue as part of a 3-day tour in a number of theatres in the city. The song was then recorded in Beijing and will be included in the Alcántara II "Zeina in China" album. The Dream of Silk Road is the only duet on the album with Chuanyue and accompanied by China Philharmonic Orchestra and Asia Philharmonic Orchestra Choir, organized by China Arts and Entertainment Group. The full Alcántara II "Zeina in China" album is accompanied by the Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 2017, Barhoum was awarded the Grand Prix at a ceremony held by the Embassy of Ukraine in Jordan. She had previously won the same award at the 2nd Taras Shevchenko International Singing Competition. In July 2017, Barhoum launched the Amman Opera Festival (AOF), the first opera festival in the Arab world sharing the same vision of Barhoum's Alcántara series of bridging cultures. In September 2018, AOF's second edition, featuring the opera La Boheme, took place at the Roman Theatre in downtown Amman. The festival opened with a highlight performance by two young local talents featuring the international Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra. AOF aims at promoting and inspiring young and emerging local talent through its regional and international platform, productions and educational program An Eye on Music in Education.

Most recently, Barhoum played the role of Micaëla in the opera Carmen by French composer Georges Bize in January 2019,marking the first Arab soprano to perform at the Teatro Amintore Galli in Rimini, Italy.

Barhoum performed at the Christmas and New Year's Eve concert in Jordan in 2019 with the presence of His Majesty King Abdullah II. Of the experience, she commented, "It was truly an honor to have been part of this wonderful spiritual initiative celebrating Christmas and the New Year in the graceful presence of His Majesty King Abdullah II, accompanied by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdulla II."

Jordanian Soprano Zeina Barhoum's first album Alcántara - Bridging Cultures Across The Mediterranean & Beyond was launched on iTunes & Anghami. The album contains 10 Arabic and international cover songs, including the classical Andalusian-Arabic song Lamma Bada, the Neapolitan song O Sole Mio and Sempre Libera from Verdi's La Traviata and more.

Zeina Barhoum is a classically trained Soprano and founder of The Alcántara music and art series holding a BSC in Visual Communication at the American University of Sharjah. Zeina has performed at countless events supporting the benefit of women, children, peace and prosperity. Among her many invitations to perform, Barhoum was invited to perform at Kensington Palace in celebration of Women achievers, and for bridging cultures through the Arab International Women's Forum.

Her album Alcántara refers to the Roman stone arch bridge built in Extremadura, Spain. The title of the song reflects Zeina's dedication to building strong connections of understanding and compassion through her music. Barhoum recently launched her latest album Alcántara II "Zeina in China" in Ukraine. Featured in her second album titled Alcántara II "Zeina in China" her single The Dream of Silk Road highlights the importance of the ancient route that linked China to the Arab world and its role in sparking intercultural communication, extending its trans formative influence all the way to Rome.

Under the patronage of HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein, Soprano Zeina Barhoum and Somerset artist Peter Lawrence held an art exhibition that included some of their paintings, as part of Alcántara Beyond the Wells: Bridging Cultures with Music and Art, at the Bishop's Palace in Wells, UK.

Zeina is also a fashion designer at Creative Concepts Industries (CCI), a family business that was founded in July 2006. She started her own jewelry brand Zeina Barhoum Jewelry in 2003.

A special thank you to our sponsors, Arab Bank, Huawei, IGI and Vogue Arabia and all of our supporters for contributing to the success of the second edition of the Alcántara series, Alcántara II "Zeina in China".