Sherif Dahroug is an internationally awarded composer, recording artist, and concert master, distinguished by a dual artistic identity that encompasses both compositional creation and an exceptionally rare bi-instrumental virtuosity on classical guitar and piano. His intellectual formation is marked by its unfolding within the domain of engineering: he earned, with honors, a Master of Science in Naval Architecture and Hydrodynamics before electing to devote himself entirely to musical art. This passage from scientific rigor toward artistic vocation reflects a continuity of method and aspiration, grounded in precision, structure, and an uncompromising pursuit of excellence.
His musical language reflects this synthesis. Virtuosic command is inseparable from architectural coherence; expressive depth is supported by carefully articulated formal design. The result is an oeuvre characterized by structural clarity, timbral refinement, and conceptual unity, through which he has established a singular and recognizable artistic voice. Through these qualities, Sherif Dahroug has emerged as a salient figure on the international musical scene, whose work resonates with both intellectual discipline and poetic resonance.
A recipient of more than 44 prestigious international awards, Sherif Dahroug has been distinguished across leading cultural capitals, including Vienna, London, Paris, New York, California, and Moscow, as well as Athens, Amsterdam, Berlin, Lugano, and Birmingham. His honors include the Diamond Prize for Composition at the Classical Music Awards in London and the Grand Prize of the New York International Music Competition, alongside Platinum Absolute First Prizes at the World Master Open. Among his many distinctions are numerous Gold, Silver, and special honors awarded by esteemed competitions throughout Europe, Russia, and the United States.
He was further decorated with the Médaille de Platine (Platinum Medal) by the prestigious Société Académique Arts-Sciences-Lettres in Paris. As the institution’s highest decoration within its hierarchy of honors, this medal is conferred under the High Patronage of the President of the French Republic and is recognized (primée) by the Académie Française for exceptional contributions to art, science, and letters. It reflects a rare synthesis of these domains, reuniting disciplines too often held apart and embodying a singular contribution to contemporary thought and artistic creation.
In 2025, he was awarded the Absolute First Platinum Prize at the European Symphony Architect Awards for his opus and album Dichotomie. Further recognizing his artistic influence, the jury named him “Artist of the Month” at the European Classical Music Awards. These same awards later declared him the Annual Diamond Prize Winner and bestowed upon him the distinguished title of “Composer of the Year” at the 2024 Annual Grand Prix.
His album Regards sur l’Horizon, honored by the Global Music Awards, has already established itself as a landmark in contemporary musical creation.
In 2025, Sherif Dahroug was invited to join the Recording Academy / GRAMMYs® as a Voting Member, honoring his artistic vision and global impact on contemporary music.
His academic journey, shaped by studies at the Schola Cantorum, the École Normale de Musique de Paris, and the Royal Academy of Music in London, placed him under the tutelage of eminent mentors—heirs to the great pedagogical traditions of Sergiu Celibidache, Nadia Boulanger, and Olivier Messiaen—including Narcis Bonet, Jean-Pierre Wallez, Jean-Dominique Pasquet, Michel Denis, Pascal Boëls, Éric Franceries, and many others.
Decorated with the highest artistic honors, academic distinctions, and performance awards, he holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts (DMA) in Performance, a Master of Music in Composition and Musicology, and a Master of Arts (HEM) in Chamber Music. A distinguished laureate of the Prix de Virtuosité, he was further honored with the unanimously awarded Diplôme de Concert—the highest artistic distinction conferred by the Schola Cantorum, representing the absolute summit of musical excellence within the elite French academic tradition.
With more than twenty years of experience as a professional concert artist, Sherif Dahroug has performed extensively across Europe, particularly in France, Switzerland, and Italy. He has appeared in distinguished venues such as the Salle Cortot in Paris, the Vienna Musikverein, and the historic Teatro Paganini. Especially drawn to the acoustics of sacred spaces, he frequently performs in churches, cathedrals, and temples, where resonant architecture becomes a natural extension of his artistic approach to sound.
Beyond music, Sherif Dahroug is a philosopher and author whose literary work continues to expand the boundaries of artistic creation.
His book, Dichotomie: Grand Hymne des Deux Terres, stands as a bold and singular masterpiece, fusing poetry, philosophy, and mysticism to offer a uniquely immersive experience. More than just an exploration of ancient Egyptian thought, this work revives it through an incantatory language, a labyrinthine structure, and a contemplative aesthetic, elevating duality as a foundational principle of both art and existence.
His earlier book, In Pursuit of a Sonic Architectonics, serves as a bold manifesto that transcends traditional boundaries of creation. Drawing from the rich symbolism and philosophy of ancient Egypt, it bridges transcendental contemplation with technical realization, transforming contradictions and dissonances into spaces of unprecedented beauty.
An insatiable explorer of the correspondences between sound, space, and transcendence, Sherif Dahroug pursues a vision where each creation becomes a timeless sonic architecture, a sanctuary open to infinity.
His most recent book, Hathor, Iyri — À l’aube du Vin de Lumière, inaugurates a new philosophical and literary form conceived by the author — the Hiérodrame Tragique – Poème Mystère. Rooted in the great Greco-Egyptian traditions, this genre unites myth, ritual, and philosophy into a sacred dramaturgy where the act of creation becomes a passage between art, thought, and the divine.
Lyre de Mercure — Éditions, Musique, Arts & Innovation
Sherif Dahroug is the founder and director of Lyre de Mercure — Éditions, Musique, Arts & Innovation (est. 2011), an independent artistic and editorial house dedicated to the cultivation, production, and transmission of works of high artistic and intellectual value.
Through music production, editorial work, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the realization of projects integrating sound, text, image, and space, Lyre de Mercure affirms a commitment to works conceived for transmission — creations designed to endure, to be inhabited, and to contribute meaningfully to contemporary culture.
For further reading, the extended biographical texts are available below.
Sherif Dahroug has established himself as one of the most distinguished artists of his generation, earning over 44 prestigious awards in both composition and performance. His exceptional artistry has been recognized across Europe, Russia, and the United States, where he has consistently received top honors for his visionary contributions to music.
In the field of composition, Dahroug has been awarded some of the highest distinctions, including the Diamond Prize and the title of Composer of the Year from the European Classical Music Awards, as well as the institution’s Annual Grand Prix. His work has also been honored with the Diamond Prize – World Exceptional Musicians from the World Organization of Music Competitions and the Diamond Prize from the World Classical Music Awards. Further accolades include the Visionary Innovation Special Award, the Platinum Prize at the Saint-Saëns International Music Competition, and the Platinum Absolute First Prize at the World Master Open Music Competition in London.
Among his other achievements, he has received the Grand Prix and the Distinguished Creativity Award from the World Grand Prix International Music Competition for Composition, as well as a Silver Medal from the Global Music Awards in California.
Dahroug’s accomplishments in performance are equally remarkable, with numerous first and grand prizes from some of the world’s most prestigious competitions. He has won the Gold First Prize at the Virtuoso International Music Awards in London and the First Prize at the Medici International Music Competition. His accolades also include the Grand Prix at the New York Classical Music Competition, the First Prize at the London International Music Competition, and the First Prize at the IV Lugano International Music Competition in Switzerland.
Additional distinctions include the Diamond Grand Prix from the Royal VanBach International Music Competition in Amsterdam, the Platinum First Prize at the World Grand Prix I.M.C. – Professional in London, and the Special International Career Project Award from the IV Lugano International Music Competition.
Further recognition has come in the form of the Platinum Award – Strings from the European Classical Music Awards, the Platinum First Prize from the European Classical Music Artists Awards, and several Silver Prizes from the Vienna International Mozart Competition, the International Moscow Music Competition, the Euterpe Music Awards, and the New York International Music Competition.
In 2022, he was unanimously awarded the Diplôme de Concert from the Schola Cantorum in Paris, the absolute summit of musical excellence within the elite French academic tradition.
In 2017, he earned the Diplôme de Virtuosité, and a post‑Master of Arts (HEM), representing the pinnacle of advanced musical training.
In 2015, he earned his Diplôme d’Exécution from the prestigious École Normale de Musique de Paris.
In 2014, he earned his MM in Composition and Musicology from the École Normale de Musique de Paris, a milestone that solidified his dual mastery of creative architecture and historical analysis.
In 2009, after completing advanced diplomas in performance and composition at the London Royal Academy of Music, he moved to Paris with a scholarship from the École Normale de Musique. Between 2009 and 2015, he refined his craft under the tutelage of Maestros François Martin and Tania Chagnot, earning the Brevet d’Exécution and the Diplôme d’Exécution.
In 2013, he achieved the Diplôme d’Harmonie et d’Analyse Musicale under the mentorship of Maestros Narcis Bonet and Jean‑Dominique Pasquet. In 2011, he completed a Diplôme d’Histoire under the supervision of Frank Torres.
These accolades attest to a synthesis of technical virtuosity, interpretative depth, and intellectual rigor.
Originally from Alexandria, Egypt, Sherif Dahroug began his formal musical training at the Alexandria Conservatory of Music, where he also held a teaching position. Under the mentorship of the composer Ramz Sabry Samy, he deepened his studies in harmony and composition.
From 2006 to 2009, as an educator at both the Alexandria Conservatory and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, he founded an ensemble that infused the city’s classical music scene with renewed energy.
His dedication earned him a scholarship from the École Normale de Musique de Paris. In 2011, he represented Alexandria at the ECUME Festival in Genoa, Italy, performing at the historic Paganini Theatre.
Beyond performance and composition, Sherif Dahroug embraces a vision where music intertwines with philosophy, visual arts, architecture, and astronomy. By transcending traditional boundaries, he crafts a language that speaks to the soul as much as to the intellect.
His musical universe spans neo‑impressionism to innovative theatrical soundscapes. Recent works (2023–2024) such as Philae, Hiérakonpolis, Abydos, ATUM, and Eirene – Old Comedy! exemplify his versatility.
These compositions reveal a mastery of technique and artistic sensitivity that pushes the boundaries of contemporary music, inviting contemplation of the interconnectedness between disciplines, humanity, and the cosmos.
Deeply inspired by ancient Egypt, Sherif Dahroug delves into its astronomy, philosophy, and hieroglyphic writing. Since 2016, his blog Meditations on Egyptian Wisdom has cultivated a community drawn to his perspective.
Drawing from the astronomy, history, and philosophy of this civilization, he infuses his musical creations with a timeless and universal dimension.
In Search of a Sonic Architectonic is the fruit of eight years of research and reflection, inviting readers on an introspective journey where architecture, astronomy, philosophy, and music converge.
The work also features the monumental Regards sur l’Horizon – Opus Magistralis, composed of twenty movements and spanning over two hours.
High‑resolution press biography for media use.
