A PHOTO REPORT ON THE COLLECTIVE COMPOSITION SESSION IN CAIRO
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For over 12 years, the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence has been running sessions of the Orchestre des Jeunes de la Méditerranée (OJM) across a number of cities throughout the Mediterranean region. These residencies are dedicated to the professional development of young composer-performers and to the emergence of new repertoires, shaped by the richness and cultural diversity of the Mediterranean.
From 11 to 19 April 2026, the OJM Collective Composition Session took place in Egypt. Five young artists from Tunisia, Greece, Egypt and France came together under the mentorship of composer and jazz musician Fabrizio Cassol : Amena El Abd (chant), Saber Radhouani (chant), Jules Regard (trombone), Akram Ben Romdhane (oud) et Eirini Alisà (piano).
Initially welcomed in residence in the heart of El Dahshureya, a landmark site for screenwriting in Egypt, before being immersed in the vibrant energy of Cairo, a мегacity of over 20 million inhabitants, the quintet — comprising a female singer, a male singer, a trombonist, an oud player and a pianist — developed the first sketches of a shared musical work. Drawing on their respective writings, languages and instruments, this collective creation has taken shape at the crossroads of their cultural heritages, contemporary jazz and their imaginations, while absorbing the landscapes encountered along the way.
Following an initial sharing at the Institut français in Cairo (Mounira) on 18 April, the piece will continue its journey to the Festival d’Aix in July. There, the quintet will join the 82 other young OJM musicians, brought together under the direction of conductor Sora Elisabeth Lee.
Discover this collective work in concert on 20 July 2026 at the Grand Théâtre de Provence.
Also on tour on 21 July in Vauvenargues and on 22 July at the Centre International des Arts en Mouvement.
The OJM Collective Composition Session is part of the Institut français “Saison Méditerranée 2026” label.
