KAMEL SALAH ELDIN

Born in Cairo, began studying cello at the age of nine in the children's school of the Cairo Conservatoire. In 1979 he graduated from the Conservatoire with honors and was appointed to a teaching position there. From 1983 to 1986 he conducted post-graduate studies at the Frankfurt Academy of Music with G. Mantel and, after further studies, obtained from the same school the "Soloist Diploma" in 1988. He continued simultaneous studies with H. Shapiro (USA) and D. Shafran (USSR).
He has been appointed co-leader of the cellos of the Frankfurt Opera Orchestra in 1988. His vast solo and chamber music repertoire ranges from historic works to world premieres of contemporary music, some of which were written for, and dedicated to, him. He appeared in numerous radio and television recordings in the Middle East, Europe and the United States of America. He has conducted orchestral concerts where he featured as cello soloist at the same time. He is currently a member of the "Balthasar-Neumann Ensemble" performing on historical instruments and directed by Thomas Hengelbrock.

(This biography is taken from the libretto distributed on the occasion of the 2009 edition of the "Arab Perspectives Music Festival")