Skip to main content

Meet the mother of three who is Egypt's first female maestro

Eman Genedy has conducted several orchestras and made a name for herself in a conservative society that frowns upon women singing, let alone conducting an orchestra.
image1_2.jpg

Female orchestra conductors are rare in the world, let alone in the Middle East. However, Eman Genedy has been making a 25-person orchestra play to her tune for the last 13 years.

Genedy, 60, Egypt's first female maestro, hails from conservative Upper Egypt. A mother of three, she has dark skin like much of the population of Upper Egypt and wears a hijab, both on and off stage.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.