The 34th Arab Music Festival and Conference is set to commence in Cairo on October 20 and run until October 30. The event will feature 70 Egyptian and Arab artists, including notable names such as Nivine Rajab, Nadira Mostafa, and Mohamed Tharwat. A total of 22 musical performances will be held across various stages in Cairo, including the Cairo Opera House and the Alexandria Opera House. The festival is being held under the patronage of Dr. Abdel Aziz Kansoua, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Acting Minister of Culture.
The festival's opening ceremony, which will take place at the Cairo Opera House, will feature a documentary film about the life and career of the late Egyptian singer Hani Shaker. The film, directed by Samer Madi, will highlight Shaker's most notable musical achievements and contributions to Arabic music. The ceremony will also include performances by several Egyptian musicians, including Ashraf Walid, Mohamed Tarik, and Ahmed Essam.
The festival will also feature a conference that will discuss the topic of "Arabic Music between Academic Criticism and Media Coverage." The conference, which will be held over four days, will include four main axes: Arabic music under academic criticism, media coverage as a tool for documentation, pioneering contributions to the media coverage of Arabic musical creativity, and the critical impact of academic and media institutions on Arabic music.
A total of 54 research papers were submitted to the festival's scientific committee, of which 35 were accepted for presentation. The committee received papers from Egypt and several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, and Libya. The scientific committee will also honor two prominent researchers in the field of Arabic music studies: Dr. Zein Nassar and Dr. Mohamed Hassan Helil.
The festival will also feature a competition for young singers and oud players. The competition, which is divided into two sections, will offer three prizes worth a total of 90,000 Egyptian pounds. The competition is open to participants from Egypt and other countries, with a registration fee of 1,000 Egyptian pounds for non-Egyptian participants.
The festival's program includes a range of musical performances, including concerts by Egyptian and Arab artists. Some of the notable performers include Amr Selim, Nadeen Sharara, and Khaled Selim. The festival will also feature performances by several musical bands, including the Cairo University Arabic Music Ensemble.
The festival will honor nine individuals who have made significant contributions to Arabic music, including the late Egyptian singer Hani Shaker. The honorees also include poet Reza Amin, musician Moktار El-Sayed, and music critic Dr. Inas Jalal Eddin. The festival's organizers aim to celebrate the contributions of these individuals to the rich cultural heritage of Arabic music.
Key points
- The 34th Arab Music Festival and Conference will feature 70 Egyptian and Arab artists and 22 musical performances.
- The festival will discuss the topic of "Arabic Music between Academic Criticism and Media Coverage."
- The festival will honor nine individuals who have made significant contributions to Arabic music.
