Omar Abu El-Hana is an Egyptian oud player and classical composer currently based in the Netherlands. Born in Giza, he began his formal music studies in oud performance in 2014 at the Beit Al-Oud Al-Arabi in Cairo, under the artistic direction of Naseer Shamma and the direct supervision of Hazem Shaheen. He later earned a diploma in oud performance from the Higher Institute of Arabic Music in Cairo.

 

Omar combines his deep foundation in traditional Arabic music with a contemporary artistic vision. Since 2019, he has also worked as an oud teacher, offering private and group lessons to students of various levels. His teaching focuses not only on instrumental technique, but also on stylistic interpretation and improvisation rooted in the maqam tradition.

 

In parallel with his oud studies, Omar pursued classical composition at the Cairo Conservatory, where he was mentored by the acclaimed Egyptian-Austrian composer Amr Okba. He earned third prize in the largest classical composition competition in the Middle East, placing ahead of several senior academics. Despite this recognition, the local musical climate was often unreceptive to contemporary art, which eventually led Omar to relocate to the Netherlands to continue his development.

 

He is currently enrolled in the contemporary classical composition program at ArtEZ Conservatory in Zwolle, where he is also actively performing as an oud player. His artistic work focuses on creating a dialogue between Egyptian musical heritage and Western classical forms, both in performance and composition.

 

In 2023, Omar co-founded the musical duo “Sirico” with fellow oud player Omar Shendi, drawing inspiration from Sirius (Al-Shi’ra Al-Yamaniya) and its cultural and historical symbolism in ancient Egypt. The duo aims to present the oud in a modern and expressive context, engaging diverse audiences across Europe.

 

Omar’s future goals include advanced studies in oud performance, composing for film and stage, and founding a music school in Egypt that fosters creativity, cultural exchange, and artistic freedom."