The Cairo Opera House has announced that it is accepting entries from contestants wishing to participate in the upcoming Ratiba El-Hefny Arab Music and Singing Competition. The event is taking place as part of the 30th edition of the Arab Music Festival in November 2021. The competition will accept entries from children, young people, and people with special needs, with entries to be in several categories including new songs, Arab singing, instrumental music, and a competition for people with special needs. The new song competition, accompanied by an instrumental performance, accepts contestants 45 years old or younger. The winners will be granted awards with a total worth of EGP 150,000 (just over $9,500). The singing segment for people with special needs is open to those aged 17-35, with prizes worth EGP 90,000 (just over $5,700). The segment for children requires that participants are aged 6-14, and will see awards worth EGP 60,000 in total (just over $3,800). In the solo performance on an instrument competition, which features instruments such as the flute, qanun, oud, violin, cello, and percussion, applicants must not be older than 35 years old and the performance should not exceed 10 minutes. Applications can be picked up from the Cairo Opera House grounds in the administrative building and submissions are accepted until 25 October 2021. The competition was launched in the early 1990s by the late-soprano Ratiba El-Hefny, who also assumed the position of Chairperson overlooking the opera's opening and start-up of activities between 1988 and 1990. Under El-Hefny's chairpersonship, the Cairo Opera House saw the birth of new companies under its umbrella, including the National Arab Music Ensemble and the Cairo Opera House Children's Choir.
