Biography

Mina Mikhael Salama

Got Bachelor's degree in Music Education with a Very Good degree from the University of Alexandria -Egypt in 2000 and became a Teacher assistant in the same Faculty.

Multi-instrumentalist in many instruments like Piano, keyboard, oud, nay, kawala, Armenian duduk, oriental violin, qanun, mandolin, saz, udu drum and nailute.

Worked as a nay, piano and keyboard principal player in the "Egyptian Opera House" from 2004 to 2012, and also as Assistant Maestro, a music arranger for many music pieces and songs played in the Opera House from 2004 to 2012.

Music director and vocal coach for many choirs such as the Opera Choir and many choirs of the Coptic Church.

A manager for Ava Takla Sound Studios and the main Sound engineer from 2008 to 2012

Composed and arranged many music pieces and songs for many albums and projects for the Coptic Churches and TV Channels.

Contributed to the recordings of the choir's first music college seminary in Cairo, and the supervision of the music department at the Institute of Coptic Hymns Coptic Studies in Cairo.

Music scores writer of Coptic Music (from the most known modern Coptic cantor who is the late Cantor Mikhail Girgis El Batanouny, whose recordings have helped to preserve and unify many ancient chants that otherwise would have been lost, however, they were recorded in Greco-Bohairic Pronunciation). this project is contributed to the music department at the Institute of Coptic Hymns Coptic Studies in Cairo with the European Union.

Has performed at many albums and music festivals in the Uk, such as the Edinburgh Festival 2014, Celebrating Sanctuary Southbank 2013 & 2014, AHRC Connected Communities Festival Cardiff 2014, Journeys Festival 2014 Leicester, Manchester Bridgewater Hall 2013, Platforma Festival 2013, Musicport Festival in 2018 and 2019, and worked on Haymanot Tesfa‘s solo recording project with the percussionist Arian Sadr, on MIRO’s debut CD, and on Rafiki Jazz‘s 3rd & 4th album project, and on the Electric Sufi album 2022.

Participated as a nay principal player specialist Coptic musician with saint Kyrel trust Coptic Orchestra and Choir at all their concerts in many countries like England, Sweden, Canada & France.

Some of his music pieces have been played many times on the BBC radio Sheffield & BBC 6.

Performed at the biggest Music Festivals in the UK such as Shrewsbury Folk Festival and Womad before an audience of about 4000 people in 2017 and 2018.

Performed at many international Music Festivals and Music workshops at many universities in many countries such as Australia, Canada, Kuwait, Libya, United Arab Emirates, and Congo.

In 2017 contributed to the music score recording and filming for Disney's new movie Alladin casts Will Smith, Mena Massoud & Naomi Scott.

Have been chosen to introduce the nay to be recorded and documented on the British Museum website.

Performed as a soloist musician in celebrating The United Kingdom of Emirates National day in 2017 at The National History Museum, also in 2018 in Victoria and Albert Museum in 2018.

Contributed to "Civilisations" BBC TV program in 2017 and demonstrated the 30,000 years Isturitz Vulture bone flute.

Have been chosen to lead a lot of Music workshops in different universities and music colleges in the UK such as Northern Royal Music College in Manchester, York Music College, Sheffield and Leeds Universities, and also as a guest lecturer at the University of Huddersfield.

Have been chosen to be one of the leaders to put the Arts Council-funded program for Manchester International Roots Orchestra (MIRO) for 2019.

Contributed to many Masters’ and PhD music researches and some of them as a co-author.

Have been chosen to design the bells' Coptic melody rings for Milano Coptic Cathedral in Italy 2018/2019 to be implemented by a specialist company in making Church bells in Italy.

Work currently on a research project on ancient Egyptian music at the University of Huddersfield.