Voyageur (The Traveler) is an apt description of Marcel Khalife's life and music. He has traveled countless roads to countless cities, tearing down barriers between people and cultures. Born in Lebanon, Khalife has found a worldwide audience eager to welcome and applaud his rich musical repertoire - prominently featuring the beloved oud (also known as the Near Eastern lute). In 1972, Khalife formed a group of musicians in Amchit, the town where he was born. The group, which then performed throughout Lebanon, wanted to revive Arabic music and its choral heritage. The Amchit group was an experience of Khalife's that launched Al-Mayadine Ensemble in 1976, which soon earned wide acclaim. He and the Al-Mayadine Ensemble continue to perform concerts throughout the Arab world, Africa, Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Australia and Japan. In 1974, he began to write music for the dance shows of the Caracalla Dance Troupe. The powerful combination of Marcel Khalife's music and the dance troupe has given birth to a new style of Near Eastern ballet with a popular appeal. He has also written soundtracks for documentaries and films directed by Maroun Baghdadi, Sophi Sayhf Eddin and Sami Zikra.