Bibliotheca Alexandrina to host oud concert for Hazem Shaheen on July 7

CAIRO – 5 July 2022: The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, through its Arts Center, will organize an oud concert for the artist Hazem Shaheen, on July 7 at 8 pm at the BA Conference Center's Small Theater.

Born in Alexandria, Hazem Shaheen is an Egyptian oud player, singer and composer. He is one of the most prominent independent artists in the Arab world. He began his studies of music in 1990, where he was apprenticed to many senior professors of the oud instrument, including Mohamed Afifi and Abdel Moneim Arafa.

He joined the Institute of Arabic Music, and graduated with honors in 1999. He then studied at the Arab Oud House, where he was one of the first graduates with honors in 2002. Shaheen worked as a teacher at the Arab Oud House for 5 years, then became a professor of oud at the Egyptian Opera House.

Moreover, Shaheen won the title of Best Oud Player in the Middle East in 2001 in the International Oud Competition in Beirut. He was the youngest participant in the competition.

Shaheen founded the band "Iskanderella" in 2005, and founded  "Al-Massar" band in 2006. Its name was later changed to Hazem Shaheen Band.