The Cairo Celebration Choir (CCC) was awarded Silver Diploma, one of the major awards at the 9th World Choir Games, an international event which took place between 6 and 16 July in Sochi, Russia.

"We did it!" the choir broke the news on their Facebook page adding that they are looking forward to the upcoming ‎World Choir Games‬ which will be held in South Africa in 2018.

The CCC was the only ensemble representing Egypt in Sochi, an event which this year brought together over 23,000 participants from 73 countries. Moreover, Egypt was one of three Arab countries participating in this year’s edition of the World Choir Games, the other two being Jordan and Lebanon.

The award was given to the CCC in the 'Folklore with Accompaniment' category for their performance of compilation of folkloric songs from one of their iconic repertoire elements, Aghani Bel Arabi.

The choir performed songs by late Egyptian composer Sayed Darwish arranged by maestro Nayer Nagui, who is also the choir’s founder and artistic director. The songs included Telaat Ya Mahla Nourha, Ya Balah Zaghloul, El Helwa Dih/Zourouni medley and Ya ward Ala Foll we Yasmin.

This is the second prestigious prize garnered by the CCC, after the Silver Level Diploma they won at the Czech Republic's Prague Voices 2012 Festival.

Founded in 2000, the Cairo Celebration Choir consists of over 100 members.

The choir has performed works representing several music schools: French repertoire with Gabriel Fauré's Requiem, Italian with Rossini's La Petite Messe Solennelle, German as represented by Schubert's Stabat Mater, Latin/Spanish with works by Guastavino, and explored English style with Handel's Ode for St Cecilia's Day.

The choir has a few international appearances under their belt, in Morocco and France, among other tour events.

Apart of Western classical works, their repertoire also includes compositions by Arab composers, arranged by Nagui. The choir regularly joins the Christmas performances staged annually at the Cairo Opera House. 

According to the event’s website, the World Choir Games were founded in 2000 as an “international choir festival taking place every two years on different continents.”

“The event is based on the Olympic ideals, which aim to peacefully unify people and nations connected by song in a fair competition. Unrelated to artistic levels, this approach challenges personality and team spirit alike.”

The festival is organised by Interkultur and invites “all amateur choirs of the world… to head for a 11-day journey through the whole world of choral music at the World Choir Games 2016 and to perform in the competitions, in Friendship Concerts and to perform together on stage for huge singing projects.”

Founded in 2000 by maestro Nayer Nagui, the Cairo Celebration Choir consists of over 100 members. (Photo: Miriam Benyamein)

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