Khouri was born in Wellington, New Zealand to parents of Lebanese descent. At age 16 he joined the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Youth Orchestra in the year of its creation, 1959. He then studied at the Royal College of Music in London, making his debut at the Wigmore Hall with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in the Clarinet Concertino by Mátyás Seiber.Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 13 January 2019 He toured with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and became first clarinet with the Royal Ballet Orchestra.\
