The National Arab Music Ensemble

Selim Sahab (Conductor)

Selim Sahab obtained a bachelor’s degree in academic choral conducting from the Gensin Institute, Moscow in 1971 and a diploma in symphonic orchestral conducting from the Tchaikovsky Institute, Moscow in 1976. He established the Beirut Company for Arab Music in 1980.

This company gave concerts in Syria, Tunisia, Oman, and also in Paris and London. He was a teacher at the American University in Beirut and conductor of that university’s choir. He also taught Arab music history at the Higher Institute for Arab Music in Cairo.

From 1989-1990, he was involved in establishing the National Arab Music Ensemble with Dr. Ratiba El-Hefny. At the Babylon Global Festival for Arab Music the ensemble was awarded a gold medal and its conductor a silver one.

The National Arab Music Ensemble performed in Carthage (Tunisia) and at the celebrations of the National Kuwaiti Independence Day. Selim Sahab also established the Cairo Opera Children Choir that consists of 200 children.