Short Bio:
Amr Selim is a musician, educator, cultural entrepreneur, and community leader born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. His work has taken him to most of the Middle East, Europe, and the USA -- whether collaborating, performing, teaching, or speaking, Amr aims to advocate for a thoroughly decolonized and inclusive performance and education climate. His endeavors can be seen through his publications, guest talks and lectures, membership of the Presidential Task Force on Leading Change in Music Education, and co-chairing the International Initiative Committee at the College Music Society.
Dr. Selim is a former professor of Music at the Lebanese American University and has held posts at Adelphi University and Stony Brook University in New York, at which he earned his Doctorate in Musical Arts as a Staller Scholar. As a musician, described as "expressive and ghostly wailing [playing] of a kind never heard from the instrument before" Amr has worked closely with renowned artists, conductors, and ensembles such as The Silk Road Ensemble and Yo-Yo Ma, Emerson String Quartet, Imani Winds, Daniel Barenboim, Frank Shipway, Christopher Muller, Ingo Metzmacher, and Gunther Schuller.
At American Voices, Amr is working extensively on international projects such as YES Academies, the Heart of Afghanistan, a new Cultural Diplomacy endeavor, organizational development, and the Arts Envoy Program sponsored by the U.S. State Department.
Long Bio:
Known for his versatility and virtuosity, described as "expressive and ghostly wailing [playing] of a kind never heard from the instrument before, Egyptian hornist Amr Selim is quickly establishing a reputation as one of today’s foremost horn players; drawing audience
wherever his horn takes him by his distinctive sound across different musical
genres. Having started playing the Horn at the age of eleven, won his first job only
five years later at the age of sixteen with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra. He has also
served as Guest Principal Horn with Amman Symphony Orchestra, National Algerian
Orchestra, Ars Flores Symphony Orchestra and Symphony of the Americas in
Florida; under the batons of renowned conductors: Daniel Barenboim, Frank
Shipway, Christopher Muller, Ingo Metzmacher, Gunther Schuller among many
others. Amr has toured as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher throughout
Europe, South Korea, and across the Middle East and United States.
As an active chamber musician, and winner of the Ackerman and the Egyptian
Ministry of Culture chamber music competitions, he is a co-founding member of
Tarmu Wind Sextet and recently released an album "Stained Glass Stories" with Jazz
Vibraphonist and composer Eldad Tarmu. Amr is a founding
member of Gadayel Duo with his wife; pianist Seba Ali with recent performances at
Santa Clara University, Silicon Valley Music Festival, Lincoln Center, and Kaufman
Center in New York City. His chamber performances have taken him to many
prestigious halls, but also a chance to give back to his community by performing at
many nursing homes, retirement communities and hospitals.
The winner of the internationally recognized 2012 Northeast Horn Solo
Competition, Dr. Selim has appeared as a soloist with Burlington Chamber
Orchestra, Gracias Symphony Orchestra, Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra, Cairo
Conservatory Orchestra and Bibliotheca Alexandria Orchestra when he gave the
Egyptian premier of the Gordon Jacob Horn Concerto, Stony Brook Wind Ensemble
when he gave the world premier of composer Peter Winkler’s Elegy for Horn and
Wind ensemble. His performances have been broadcasted on Deutsche Welle,
Korean National Broadcast Network, WHSU and New York’s Classical Music Radio
WQXR.
As an educator, Dr. Selim was an Assistant Professor of Music, and Founder and
Director of Imagine Summer Arts Camp at the Lebanese American University Prior
to moving to Beirut, he was the horn professor at Adelphi University, Mahanaim
Conservatory, and Director of Chamber and World Music Ensembles at the Knox
School and has given and continue to give masterclasses and workshops at many
prestigious institutions such as at Manhattan School of Music, New York University,
Queens College, Stony Brook University, among other institutions in the U.S, South
Korea and the Middle East. He also served as horn faculty for the undergraduate
music department at Stony Brook University as well as a Chamber Music Coach for
its Pre-College Division. For the 2013-14 season, he was the head of Music at Appel
Farm Arts Camp.
Along with the masterpieces of the 18th through 20th centuries, Amr is constantly
inspired by works composed in our time and enjoys working with living composers;
having premiered many works by European, Middle Eastern and American
composers. Interested in bridging the Eastern and Western Music, he recently
finished his etude book titled “Vocalizing the Horn; A pedagogical approach to
interpreting Arab vocal music on the horn”. An etude book that helps non-eastern
horn players to understand and perform Middle Eastern works. His research
includes topics on Music and Qur’an and the religious music of Egypt.
Dr. Selim Holds a Bachelor of Music from Cairo Conservatory, a Professional
Performance Certificate from Lynn Conservatory, and as a Staller Scholar he holds a
Master’s of Music and Doctorate of Music Arts degree from Stony Brook University.