Application Deadline
November 30, 2023
Cairo Opera Orchestra at Cairo Opera House in Cairo, Egypt
Selected Soloists will be presented at the colORCHESTRA concert with the Cairo Opera Orchestra on April 30, 2024, at Cairo Opera House in Cairo, Egypt, under the baton of Maestro Nayer Nagui.
Rehearsals with the Cairo Opera Orchestra are scheduled during April 25-29, 2024.
The concert will be Broadcast Live by Virtual Concert Halls on various public channels on YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Twitch, among other platforms
Video of the concert will stay available for playbacks on the channels.
Soloists will participate in interviews for media and other activities associated with the event.
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Important dates:
November 30, 2023 - Deadline to apply with a video of your choosing
December 30, 2023 - Deadline to register for LIVE Audition (for those who are invited based on their video submission)
January, 2024 (dates TBA) - Streaming technology seminar in preparation for Live Audition
January 26-29, 2024 - Live Auditions. Broadcast on video and social platforms. Meet the Judges.
April 25-29, 2024 - Rehearsals
April 30, 2024 - Concert
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No age restrictions.
For sample of accepted Concertos, Arias and other vocal works - click below "Repertory" button
Meet the Orchestra
The Cairo Opera Orchestra is one of the companies operating under the umbrella of the Cairo Opera House. The orchestra was formed 1994 and its repertoire includes a vast number of celebrated classic ballets and famous operas or operettas performed in collaboration with the Cairo Opera Ballet Company or the Cairo Opera Company.
Sherif Mohie El-Din was appointed conductor of the orchestra in 1995. Later, the orchestra was headed by various Egyptian and international conductors. The former President, Mr. Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, President of the Republic, inaugurated the new Egyptian Opera House on October 10, 1988, after an absence of seventeen years, since the old opera house was burned down in 1971. The new Egyptian Opera House "The National Cultural Center" is one of the symbols of Egyptian-Japanese cooperation Which expresses the depth of the bonds of friendship between the Egyptian and Japanese peoples.
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency ( JICA ) coordinated with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, and it was agreed on a design that was consistent with the buildings surrounding the house, and the design was characterized by the modern Islamic architectural character.
The construction area includes 22,772 square meters, while the building itself is located on an area of 13,855 square meters, with a maximum height of 42 meters. The uniqueness of this site, which is located in the southern part of the island, and the abundance of Nile water in this area and the abundance of trees in the garden surrounding this place, allowed it to be a natural content Thumbs up for the new opera house.
In March 1985, the design took place, which took a year and a half, and the President of the Republic laid the foundation stone. Then, the interconnected effort of Egyptian hands in cooperation with Kajima Company was credited with completing this great work on March 31, 1988, that is, 34 months after the start of work, to become the latest cultural landmark in Cairo.
In October 1988, this house was inaugurated in the presence of President Hosni Mubarak and His Imperial Highness Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, who is the younger brother of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. Japan also participated for the first time in Egypt, the Arab world and Africa in opening this cultural edifice with a kabuki show that includes fifty members in addition to artists of the highest rank in the fields of music, opera and ballet.
Meet the Conductor
Maestro Nayer Nagui was born in Alexandria, 1970. Joined the Alexandria Conservatoire, where he studied Piano under the Italian Prof. Herta Pappo. Furthered his Musical studies in Cairo, where he obtained the advanced certificate of the Royal Schools of Music, London, in Piano performing and Theory of Music, 1996.
Studied conducting with Prof. Maestro Dominique Rouits at L’Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris where he obtained his diploma of conducting in 2001.
His vast repertoire ranges from Symphonic, Opera, Oratorios and Ballet conducting to Musicals, and Light Music. Among it, Rossini’s 3 comic Operas, Verdi’s “Aida”, “Rigoletto”, “Ballo in Maschera”, La “Traviata” Puccini’s “Tosca”, “La Boheme”, Donizzeti’s “L’elixir d’amore” and Mozart’s “Die Zauber flote and Cosi fan tutte”, Maroun Rahi’s “Antar wa Abla”. Recently appointed as Principal Conductor for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Orchestra. In addition to his yearly program with Orchestras and Choirs in Egypt, he also conducted Lecce Symphony Orchestra and Calabria Chamber Orchestra from Italy, European Camerata from the U.K, Ensemble Georges Solti from Hungary, the Bonner Vokalisten from Germany, Moroccan Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Algerian Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Joven di Andalucia from Spain, the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, Minsk Festival Orchestra from Belarus, Shenzen Symphony Orchestra from China and Kappabachi Opera ensemble from Japan.
Application and Audition Process
Application form is DUE by the DEADLINE November 30, 2023
Upload video of any piece (with or without accompaniment). YouTube or Google Drive links are accepted
Application fee $50
Selected musicians will be invited to audition live on a public Internet TV Broadcast* and will receive a preparation tech session with VCHS Broadcast Engineers.
You will meet the Judges during Live Audition.
Live Auditions are held virtually.
Live Auditions are judged in real time.
Judges provide participants with immediate on-air feedback.
During the live audition participants will be able to speak with Judges.
• The judges’ decisions are final and may not be contested.
• To participate in the live online auditions, each musician must prepare required technical setup
Live Audition Fee - $200
*Fee includes the Technology Preparation session with A/V and Broadcast engineers
You will be notified about your acceptance into the colORCHESTRA program
Fees
Application and video pre-screening - $50
Live Audition - $200
Performance - NO FEE ($0)
Selected soloists are expected to cover their own travel expenses.
Upon request colORCHESTRA provides supporting documentation for selected soloists' visa applications.
Selected soloists may request press releases, letters of recommendation, confirmations of their participation in the concert, in support of the soloist's grants applications.