The Cairo-based Al Nour Wal Amal orchestra of 38 visually-challenged women musicians will this week enthral Manoel Theatre listeners with the music of Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and other classical composers.

The group will be performing a concert under the patronage of President George Abela on Sunday.

In 1954, a group of women under the leadership of Istikial Radi established the first centre – Al Nour Wal Amal (Light and Hope Association) in Egypt for education, vocational training and care of visually-impaired girls.

This orchestra is unique in the world as it is the only ensemble entirely composed of blind persons who play western classical music as well as oriental music

In 1961, the centre set up a music institute which later gave birth to the Egyptian Blind Girls’ Chamber Orchestra – a choir of 15 girls, which over the years grew to a 38-member repertory.

The goal of the orchestra and the institute is to introduce the girls to an art form that many visually-challenged musician excelled in to hone “their musical talent and abilities – and to provide them with a creative way to express their emotions”.

During the last 20 years, the orchestra was conducted by the late maestro Ahmed Abul Eid, who had succeeded in developing special techniques to enable girls to perform an orchestra without reading notes while performing – and without the very essential dependence on the baton of the conductor. The orchestra is today conducted by Aly Osman.

Al Nour Wal Amal Orchestra has four sections – strings, woodwind, brass and percussion – comprising visually-challenged musicians from school to University level. The orchestra, which was patronised by the Egyptian government, started travelling abroad in 1988.

It has toured Greece, Austria, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, France among several countries.

Their performances include music of Mozart, Beethoven, Bizet, Mendelssohn, Ravel, Purcell, Weber and Tchaikovsky and several other classical composers.

Jane Cassar, wife of the Ambassador to Egypt, said: “A second generation orchestra started travelling abroad in 2005 and this is being followed by a third generation composed of children who are the budding musicians of the Al Nour Wal Amal Association.

“They have won the hearts and admiration of many audiences in the city of Cairo. I appeal to all Maltese to support the wonderful orchestra by attending... This really is a living miracle,” she said.