Egyptian cultural officials have opened the 34th Festival and Conference of Arab Music at Cairo’s Opera House, dedicating this year’s edition to the legacy of the late singer Hany Shaker. The multi-day event features 24 concerts and academic research sessions.
The annual gathering opened on the grand stage of the Cairo Opera House under the leadership of Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Culture Abdul Aziz Qonsowa, alongside Opera House President Reda El-Wakil and Festival Director Mohamed El-Mougy according to cultural reporting from Cairo.
Honoring Hany Shaker
This year’s festival centers its tribute on the late vocalist Hany Shaker, widely remembered across the region for his contributions to traditional Arab song.
Performers across the Arab world gathered to mark the dedication. Singer Nadia Moustafa noted that the dedication served as a fitting recognition for an artist whose recorded catalog achieved exceptional reach. Dedication of the current edition of the Arab Music Festival to the soul of the artist Hany Shaker is the least appreciation for his great artistic value and stature, and I thank all the artists who participated in celebrating him
Moustafa said, describing how his presence continued to resonate among contemporaries.
Collaborators and peers reflected on long-standing ties during the festival’s special symposia. Lebanese vocalist Walid Tawfik recalled decades of professional crossing, pointing to Shaker’s refined demeanor and distinct standing in regional broadcasting. Other performers, including Khaled Selim, shared personal correspondence from years past, highlighting how the veteran vocalist maintained connections with colleagues facing medical procedures.
Academic Conference Examines Regional Composition and Media Standards
Alongside the evening performances, the accompanying academic conference convened researchers from 14 countries to examine the state of regional composition. Running across four consecutive days, the sessions focused on the relationship between academic critique and media broadcast standards in contemporary musical documentation.
Daily programming incorporated biographical documentaries produced by the Cairo Opera House editing studios under the supervision of Samer Mady. The screenings examined foundational figures in regional composition, including Baligh Hamdi, Riad El-Sunbati, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Mohamed Fouzy, Kamal El-Tawil, Munir Murad, and Farid El-Atrache as detailed in festival schedules.
Hyde Park Developments Sponsors 24 Concerts Featuring 91 Artists
The 34th edition features 24 concerts involving 91 artists. Corporate backing for the cultural events was secured through an agreement with Hyde Park Developments, which sponsored the festival sessions to support heritage preservation efforts noted by corporate leadership.
The roster of performers features prominent regional voices alongside younger talent competing in the annual Arab Youth Singing and Oud Instrumental competitions. Pianist Amr Selim and vocalist Medhat Saleh are slated to deliver the closing performance on the grand stage, accompanied by an orchestra led by Maestro Ahmed Amer according to final program announcements.