Getting older people together to sing while cheering up an elderly audience was guaranteed to add a sparkling to the evening. Rania Khallaf enjoyed it all It was 9.15pm when the Seniors' Choir came on stage. Led by the famous oud player Maestro Hossam Samir, the choir was giving its fourth concert performance since their formation only four months ago. "The idea of establishing this one and only such choir in Egypt, and perhaps in the Arab world, was to bring together amateur singers of all ages to sing together and to enjoy and develop their raw voices," says Samir, a musician in modest middle-age. They were 24 singers in all, half of each sex. With very few exceptions, the singers are aged between 40 and 80 years young. They look wonderful and are all smiling. The women wear colourful traditional dresses, while the men are formally dressed in black suits and red ties. "There is some kind of a target behind this intended choice of array of ages. It creates a language between the very old and very young, now that the circle is missing between the generations," Samir comments. The River Hall auditorium was about 60 per cent full, most of the audience being followers of classic Arab singing. Most were on the older side of middle age; some were over 80, using sticks to steady their steps across the large hall. Looking back from my second-row seat, I could see mostly grey hair and headscarves. It was great to see such a turnout of the older age group. The event had caught the interest of the media, and television cameras were planted all about the hall. Interviews were going on with the audience and the singers alike. The songs for the concert were cleverly chosen by Samir, each one fitting the tone of the singer's voice and character. Amira Khaled, a youngster in her mere 20s, sang one of Shadia's most popular songs, Meen alak teskun fi haretna? (Who told you to live in our alley?) Khaled sang it just fine, imitating the joyful, lighthearted performance Shadia gave when she sang the song in one of her films. While a few singers were not very well trained, and in some cases had not memorised the lyrics too well, Samir kept an eye on each soloist and gave continuous directions. He was encouraging, like a father teaching his baby his first steps. A mood of relaxation and enjoyment prevailed. This is what can often make a difference between a regular professional concert and one presented by amateurs. Magda Ashour, a veiled 50-year-old singer was one of the few unqualified voices. Although she was encouraged by the audience she seemed to lack confidence, and between one musical phrase and the other she eyed the Maestro and whispered, "Am I doing OK? Please tell me!" Somewhat embarrassed, yet still continuing perfectly to control the scene, Samir ordered her to stick to singing her song. Funny it may have been, but it exactly fitted the mood. Mahmoud Abdel-Wahab, 45, is a novelist, amateur singer and photographer, and was one of the very fine voices who gained the interest and applause of the audience. He sang Al-Helwa dayer shebak'ha shagaret fakha (The beautiful woman stands at her window full of fruitful trees). This popular song was made famous by the late singer Moharam Fouad, in a film called Hassan wi Naaima starred by late actress Soad Hosni in the late 1950s. Abdel-Wahab's marvellous tone and strong voice were perfect for the song. He stood confidently, rather seriously; his full voice rocking his body while his face was as calm as an early-morning lake. Abdel-Wahab has sung since he was a child in kindergarten; his regular school reports remarked on that superior skill of his. However, it was not until he graduated from university that he began to explore the techniques of classic Arab music and singing. He studied at the Musical Education College for a couple of years, where he forged friendships with other amateur players. "We used to gather at weekends at a friend's home or a café to sing and play music that we all adored," he says. "But now we have become professional amateurs," he winks. Abdel-Wahab prefers the term motreb, or entertainer rather than moghani, or a singer; as the first implicitly refers to the joy that singing brings to the audience. "I have always wanted to be a professional singer, now, I believe, I am on the right track," he says. Since he graduated, also from the Musical Education College, in 1988, Samir has been a professional oud player and has played in concerts all over Europe, including Vienna, Salzburg, and Istanbul. He has also played in some Arab countries. Only two and half years ago he decided to return to Egypt, and immediately began performing at the Al-Sawy Cultural Wheel. "The idea came to me after a unique experience I used to have with my audience," he says. "I used to distribute the lyrics of one or two randomly chosen songs by Abdel-Halim Hafez or Mohamed Abdel-Wahab, for example, and then we -- the audience and I -- would try to sing the song during the concert. "This experience gave my audience such great pleasure, and I used to receive calls from some members of audiences saying how happy they were. And then, I thought, they might feel much happier if they sing on stage. This is how I started performance auditions and choosing members of the Seniors' Choir," Samir says. "Two of the choir's elderly members have stopped their psychological therapy after being involved in the concerts. This is just incredible news. It makes me feel proud and gives me a great push forward." Rana Al-Mahmoud, a Lebanese who works for a Canadian Educational Organisation in Cairo, sang Fairouz's famous song Shatt Eskenderya (Alexandria Beach). Al-Mahmoud learnt about the choir only two months ago when she was chatting with friends on Facebook. "I started encouraging them, and eventually I loved the idea and their performance and I thought I would like to be one of them. And here we are," she beams. "I don't think I have a great voice, and I have never been on stage before, but I think it is an awesome experience. It's the only hobby I have besides my job, and it gives me a great thrust. It really does." Rehearsals take place every Friday morning at the Al-Sawy Cultural Wheel. There is a kind of harmony between the singers in the way they sing, joke and talk together before and after rehearsals. "It is a pleasure to be among all these nice people. They are well educated, and we are becoming like a family day after day," Al-Mahmoud adds. "I have received so many applications from amateur singers who want to join our choir," Samir says. "My dream is to enlarge the number of choir members to 120, so we can be the biggest amateur adult choir in the region. And I think my dream will be realised in the near future. "I would be more than thrilled if we managed one day to sing on the Opera House stage," Abdel-Wahab adds. So, if you think you have a voice, you may like to know that there is a place where you can let it out.
