The Al-Nourwal Amal Orchestra in Cairo has only blind female musicians using Braille notation and memory to play high class western Symphony music and regularly tour the world. The Al Nour Wal Amal Association is a non-profit institution in Egypt that provides blind women with education, literacy programmes, and professional training. It is best known for its chamber orchestra. “I do not conduct them. I just help them memorise. Of course we know every composition by heart. We translate the score into Braille. Then each girl takes her part and memorises. I put sections together. On stage all I do is tell them which piece we are about to play.” Ali Osman (1958-2017), composer and conductor trained the musicians for many years. https://youtu.be/LiZGlj0JlYk?t=78
14 November – 20 December 2024