On October 10th 2007, the Arab Cultural & Community Center proudly presented legendary Lebanese composer and oud player Marcel Khalife and his ensemble in concert at San Francisco's Herbst Theater. Now living in exile in Paris, Marcel is respected and loved worldwide for his composition in classic Arabic song styles while simultaneously pushing in new, expressive directions. He has always been a passionate defender of artistic freedom of expression throughout his decades-long career. This fall his North American tour went to almost every major city in the U.S.A. and Canada. In San Francisco, he and his three supporting musicians presented a full evening of music that ranged from the experimental fusion of Arabic music with Western styling, to the enduring songs from Marcel's vast repertory of traditional songs with a poetic and social-justice message. This concert marked the first time that the ACCC presented an international artists of this stature. The San Francisco concert was conceived, planned and executed by a planning committee which included ACCC staff members, board members, and community volunteers. Each member of this team brought his or her unique skill set to the project, in areas such as production management, event planning, fundraising, and media and publicity. Thanks to the hard work of this team, the concert was a resounding success. Over 800 audience members filled the Herbst Theater to near-capacity. This audience was a diverse group that demonstrated Marcel's cross-cultural appeal and solid fan base in the Bay Area, as well as Arabic music's ability to draw Arab-Americans and non-Arabs alike. The feeling in the theater after the concert was one of inspiration, purpose and celebration. Many audience members complimented the ACCC staff and volunteers after the show on the success of the event, the quality of the concert, and the beauty of the venue.
The success of the Marcel Khalife concert proves both the public's interest in this kind of large-scale Arab cultural event and the ACCC's organizational capacity to manage the scope of this type of production. Many in the community expressed the hope that the ACCC will expand its cultural program to include presenting more Arab cultural events of this type.
Culture & Art 
composer and oud player Marcel Khalife and his ensemble in concert at San Francisco's Herbst Theater. Now living in exile in Paris, Marcel is respected and loved worldwide for his composition in classic Arabic song styles while simultaneously pushing in new, expressive directions. He has always been a passionate defender of artistic freedom of expression throughout his decades-long career. This fall his North American tour went to almost every major city in the U.S.A. and Canada. In San Francisco, he and his three supporting musicians presented a full evening of music that ranged from the experimental fusion of Arabic music with Western styling, to the enduring songs from Marcel's vast repertory of traditional songs with a poetic and social-justice message.