Banat al-Quds: The all-women Palestinian choir keeping Jerusalem's musical heritage alive

Banat al-Quds, also known as the Daughters of Jerusalem, is more than just a choir and Arabic music ensemble — they are a living testament to Palestinian resilience in the face of Israeli efforts to erase Palestinian identity and culture.

Founded in 2013 as the first all-female group from the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, the choir and ensemble have grown into a lively collective of around 40 young women, aged 15 to 35, seeking to share the beauty of Palestine with the world and inspire audiences while celebrating their rich cultural heritage.

As the Qatar Foundation notes, they "carry the Palestinian cause in their musical strings to play a melody of freedom," a mission reflected in their performances of original songs by Palestinian and Arab composers, with fresh, creative arrangements.

Their repertoire includes pieces such as Thaher el-Khel, songs by the late Rim Banna, an Arabic rendition of the iconic Eternal Jerusalem translated by Bishop Elia Khoury, and La Tahjuru, a composition released in 2020 to mark the 72nd anniversary of the Nakba. 

Now in its 12th year, the choir and ensemble continue to thrive. The New Arab recently spoke with its founders and members to learn more about their journey, especially amid Israel's ongoing siege of Gaza.

Presence and voice proof of survival 

Over the years, Banat al-Quds has toured widely across Arab and European countries, performing in Jordan, Norway, Greece, and Qatar, and sharing their music and message with audiences worldwide.

More recently, they returned from a tour in Ireland, performing in Dublin, Limerick, and Belfast in collaboration with Irish Artists for Palestine.

They also toured England, participating in the PalMusic UK Festival in London, which celebrates Palestinian culture and stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine.

For Saheed Azzeh, a founding member of the choir, the response to their recent European tour was especially moving because all proceeds were dedicated to supporting the conservatory's branches in Jerusalem and Gaza.

"Our presence and our voice are proof of survival," Saheed tells The New Arab.

She adds that the choir's purpose is not only to showcase the talents of Palestinian women but also to show that singing itself is an act of resistance.

Through their music, Saheed emphasises, the choir expresses the daily fears and pressures Palestinians face while preserving their artistic heritage and passing it on to future generations.

Act of cultural perseverance

In addition to their extensive touring, the choir and ensemble have achieved a number of remarkable accomplishments, including the Jerusalem-based Cooperation Foundation's Ragheb Al-Kalouti Award for Community Development, releasing their first album in 2018, and producing notable works including Salam Li Gaza (2019), Tibqa Shireen (2023), and Noor (2025), the latter based on a text by imprisoned Palestinian writer Ahmed Al-Arida.

Musician Suhail Khoury, who leads the ensemble, also shared that their album Henna, which tells the stories of young Palestinian women and reflects their lives, struggles, hopes, and resilience under occupation in Jerusalem, won first place worldwide in the 'World Music' category and earned the choir and ensemble the title of Best Choir in the Middle East at the 2016 Dubai International Choral Festival.

Yet despite much to celebrate, being part of a choir and music ensemble in an occupied city comes with significant challenges.

From their earliest rehearsals and performances in Jerusalem, Banat al-Quds quickly became one of the most compelling artistic voices confronting the Israeli occupation, using harmony and heart to inspire audiences.

As restrictions on cultural events intensified — particularly amid Israel's devastating attacks on Gaza — the ensemble faced growing difficulties in finding rehearsal spaces within the city.

In response, the choir and ensemble began seeking rehearsal and performance spaces beyond Jerusalem, adapting to the circumstances while remaining committed to their art.

Suhail emphasises that the group's strength lies not only in its musical talent but also in its connection with audiences and its growing presence both locally and abroad.

Choir member Hania Nasser al-Din, who joined six years ago, highlighted the ongoing challenges of the Israeli occupation, noting the increasing difficulty of organising performances in Jerusalem as restrictions tighten and violence grows.

Even audiences, she explains, often struggle to reach venues due to Israeli-controlled checkpoints and frequent road closures.

Furthermore, travel for the ensemble is also complicated: members must pass through different checkpoints depending on the type of ID they hold, creating constant uncertainty about arriving on time and together.

"The fact that Banat al-Quds continues at all is an act of cultural perseverance in a city where artistic life is under constant pressure," Suhail says.

Ultimately, despite the ongoing challenges, he hopes the choir and ensemble will continue to expand their performances both within Palestine and abroad. At the same time, the training programme prepares a new generation of leaders to carry forward their mission.

Butheina Hamdan is a journalist based in Ramallah