Launched by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, the project aims to preserve and showcase Egypt’s musical heritage.
The programme brings together young singers and musicians from across the country, offering structured training in choral singing and orchestral performance under the guidance of maestro Selim Sahab.
Rehearsals are being held at Cairo's Al‑Samer Theatre and are organized by the General Authority for Cultural Palaces. Beyond developing technical skills, it also seeks to cultivate artistic awareness and a deeper appreciation of the nation's musical traditions.
During a recent session, Minister of Culture Gihane Zaki attended the intensive training programme and praised the high level of performance demonstrated by the young participants.
She also commended maestro Sahab for his efforts in the project, noting that his dedication reflects a broader spirit of cooperation between leading cultural figures and the ministry in nurturing new talent.
Selim Sahab, a Palestinian-born Lebanese-Egyptian conductor and music educator, is known for his pioneering work with choirs and young musicians across the Arab world.
A graduate of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, he founded several children’s choirs in Beirut before establishing the Cairo Opera Children’s Choir at the Cairo Opera House following its opening in 1988.
Over the decades, Sahab has championed music education as a tool for social development, launching initiatives such as the Egypt Children Choir for underprivileged youth and mentoring generations of performers throughout the region.
Egypt National Choir and Orchestra
The new National Choir and Orchestra project began in February with a series of field tours led by maestro Sahab to identify promising young artists across Egypt. These auditions were conducted through the cultural infrastructure of the General Authority for Cultural Palaces, which operates dozens of cultural centres nationwide.
The first round of auditions took place at the Giza Culture Palace, representing the Cairo metropolitan area. This was followed by a second round at Alexandria’s Anfoushi Culture Palace, welcoming participants from the West and Central Delta regions.
Subsequent auditions were held at the Zagazig Culture Palace for candidates from the East Delta region, and a fourth round took place at the Ismailia Culture Palace, bringing together youth from the Suez Canal and Sinai regions.
The selected participants are now engaged in intensive rehearsals, which began in late February. The programme includes two main age groups: children aged seven to 18 and an older youth group.
These rehearsals are preparing the ensemble for its official launch concert, which will formally introduce the Egyptian National Choir and Orchestra.
The date of the inaugural performance has not yet been announced.
Short link: