Myrna Bustani
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Myrna Emile Bustani (; born 20 December 1937) is a Lebanese businesswoman, philanthropist, socialite and former parliamentarian. Daughter of Emile Bustani, she was the first woman to serve in the
Lebanese parliament The Lebanese Parliament (, ) is the unicameral national parliament of the Lebanon, Republic of Lebanon. There are 128 members elected to a four-year term in Electoral district, multi-member constituencies, apportioned among Lebanon's divers ...
(1963-1964) after she took charge of representing her father's parliament seat upon his death in 1963.Bustani is president of the Al Bustan International Music Festival
''aub.edu.lb'' Retrieved 21 July 2017
Bustani is a big contributor towards cultural events in Lebanon and a
patron of the arts Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, art patronage refers to the support that princes, popes, and other wealthy and influential people ...
. She is a chairperson of the Al Bustan International Festival in Lebanon.


Biography


Early life

Myrna Bustani was born in
Beirut Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...
on December 20, 1937 to Emile and Laura Bustani. Her parents courted at the Grand Hotel in
Beit Mery Beit Mery ( ; also Beit Mer, Beir Meri) is a Lebanese town overlooking the capital Beirut. The town has been a summer mountain resort since the times of the Phoenicians and later the Romans. The name derives from Aramaic and means "The house of ...
during the 1930s prior to their marriage. Emille would years later buy the same building in auction, that would later be transformed into the Al Bustan hotel. Emile headed the leading engineering and contracting firm in the Arab world and was a prominent Lebanese statesman. Laura was an accomplished choir singer and pianist, and instilled in Myrna a passion for classical compositions. Laura frequenty took her two children to concerts in Beirut during their youth.Against All Odds
''bespoke-magazine.com'' Retrieved 21 July 2017


Education

Myrna Bustani attended Collège Protestant Français and in addition for 10 years received formal piano lessons from in
Beirut Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...
. She attended a
finishing school A finishing school focuses on teaching young women social graces and upper-class cultural rites as a preparation for entry into society. The name reflects the fact that it follows ordinary school and is intended to complete a young woman's ...
in London and completed her training there in 1954. She studied at the
University of Lyon The University of Lyon ( , or UdL) is a university system ( ''ComUE'') based in Lyon, France. It comprises 12 members and 9 associated institutions. The 3 main constituent universities in this center are: Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, which f ...
in France, where she graduated in 1958 with a BSc degree in Psychology. Aside from her native
Lebanese Arabic Lebanese Arabic ( ; autonym: ), or simply Lebanese ( ; autonym: ), is a Varieties of Arabic, variety of Levantine Arabic, indigenous to and primarily Languages of Lebanon, spoken in Lebanon, with significant linguistic influences borrowed from ...
, Bustani is also fluent in
French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...
and
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...
.


Career


Politics

In 1963, her father, Emile Bustani, died in an airplane crash. He was considered to be one of the most influential businessmen and philanthropists in the Middle East and a leading figure in the politics of the region at the time. He had been a member of the
Lebanese parliament The Lebanese Parliament (, ) is the unicameral national parliament of the Lebanon, Republic of Lebanon. There are 128 members elected to a four-year term in Electoral district, multi-member constituencies, apportioned among Lebanon's divers ...
since 1951. Upon his death, Myrna was elected to succeed him and thus became the first woman to serve in the Lebanese parliament.


Business

After her father's death, Bustani not only inherited his parliament seat but also his business positions at various companies and other responsibilities, including project plans.


Al Bustan Hotel

Prior to his death, Emile Bustani had purchased the former hotel where he and his wife used to go dancing before they married in the 1930s. He had bought the building with the intention of developing it. In order for redevelopment to happen, they needed to demolish the old hotel. Construction for the new hotel started in 1962. Emile died before its completion. However, his wife and daughter continued the development of the project. By 1967, the hotel was officially completed and ready for its grand opening. Bustani's mother chose the name "Al Bustan" (The Garden) – it was the first hotel of the time to take an Arabic name, when Beirut's hotels all took European names. The Al Bustan would become an important Lebanese landmark.


Philanthropy

In 1985, she established the Emile Bustani Middle East Seminar at her father's American alma mater,
MIT The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1861, MIT has played a significant role in the development of many areas of modern technology and sc ...
, to honour his memory and pursue his devotion to higher education and peace in the region. Bustani has been a member of the AUB Board of Trustees since 1979.


Patron of the arts

In 2007, according to an interview she did for ''Bespoke Magazine'' (online publication), she described her greatest calling as the struggle to revitalize and educate her sceptical countrymen about symphonies and sonatas, despite rampant economic instability, political assassinations and general unrest. In 1993, she set up the Al Bustan Festival, which has since welcomed hundreds of local and international musicians and performers.Al-Bustan fest is back and bigger than ever
albawaba.com'' Retrieved 21 July 2017


Awards

*''Order of the Cedar'' (officer),
Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...
Myrna Bustani profile at Lebanese American university
''lau.edu.lb'' Retrieved 21 July 2017
*''Merite Culturel'', Ministry of Arts of The Polish Republic *''Golden Insignia'' of the
Republic of Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...
*''Commander of the Isabel la Catholique'',
Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bustani, Myrna 1937 births Living people Lebanese socialites Businesspeople from Beirut Lebanese women philanthropists Lebanese philanthropists Lebanese Maronites Lebanese women in politics Recipients of the Order of Isabella the Catholic Members of the Parliament of Lebanon Politicians from Beirut Lebanese women in business 20th-century women politicians University of Lyon alumni