Carnegie Hall will be hosting the Egyptian classical pianist Mohamed Shams' solo debut in April. During the program, Shams will perform works by Chopin, Carter, Mendelssohn, Ravel, Scarlatti and Egyptian composer Gamal Abdel Rahim.
Shams is an exceptionally gifted Middle Eastern musician steeped in Western classical music tradition. He recently returned from Cairo, where he performed Beethoven’s 4th piano concerto with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra under Venezuelan conductor and violinist Eddy Marcano. The Cairo Symphony is the oldest and largest orchestra in the Arab Middle East, and Shams has performed with the ensemble since the age of 16.
Shams is aware that many people aren’t knowledgeable on Egypt's long and storied classical music tradition. “I am an Egyptian classical pianist,” he said in a press release. “To many, this may appear anomalous; I suspect that for most of the worldwide audience for this art form, Egyptian classical artists are a well-kept secret. However, Egypt was the first, and remains the most cosmopolitan of the Arab nations in this region.”
Shams studied piano at the Conservatoire of Music, the Academy of the Arts in Cairo, Egypt, graduating with distinction in 2004. In 2003, he was awarded a one-year Fulbright grant to study with Marilyn Neeley in Washington DC.
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