Torrance, CA (March 29, 2012): On Thursday, March 29, Bishop Montgomery students from Mr. Eric Hankey's music class, Ms. Anne O'Connor's social justice class, Ms. Christine Collette's world history class, and Mr. Dee Masters' theater arts class participated in a Skype video call with three finalists of the "Sing Egyptian Women" project. The opportunity was provided by Hankey’s brother Michael Hankey. Michael Hankey is the U.S. State Department's diplomat in charge of the "Sing Egyptian Women" project, which seeks to bring messages from Egyptian women into mainstream media to help raise awareness of women's issues in the Islamic world. The finalists, narrowed down from over 300 original entrants after going through a selection process similar to "American Idol,” are competing for the top prize of a recording session with Beyonce in Manhattan.
The Bishop students gathered in Thomas More Hall at 8:00am (5:00pm in Cairo) to speak with these English-speaking Egyptian women who were Skyping from the United States Embassy in Cairo. "This was a great opportunity for our students to meet students from a very different place, hear about their experiences, and discuss topics of mutual interest-- not just about music," explained Hankey.
All of the three finalists, Malak Husseiny, Maggie Fekry, and Nathalie Alain, are college students whose studies include mass communications and industrial engineering. BMHS students took turns asking questions including: “What types of music do you like to listen to?” “How difficult is it to make a career out of singing in Egypt?” “What do you write songs about?” and “How do you feel about the United States having an African-American president?” "It was great for our students to talk to these three very talented, very well-spoken, and very intelligent young women," explained Andy Marafino, BMHS Director of Marketing. "And, they looked just as excited to be speaking with us as we were to be speaking with them."
One of the highlights of the hour-long session was when BMHS freshman Sabrina Matar '15, speaking in Arabic, asked the women what inspires them to sing. Another highlight was when the three women asked BMHS if there were any singers sitting in the audience. Freshman Annabelle Bertucci '15 sang "Someone Like You" by Adele which, appropriately, included the line "I wish nothing but the best for you." Before the session was finished, all three women individually sang for the BMHS students. "They were all phenomenal singers," said Marafino.
The Bishop students gathered in Thomas More Hall at 8:00am (5:00pm in Cairo) to speak with these English-speaking Egyptian women who were Skyping from the United States Embassy in Cairo. "This was a great opportunity for our students to meet students from a very different place, hear about their experiences, and discuss topics of mutual interest-- not just about music," explained Hankey.
All of the three finalists, Malak Husseiny, Maggie Fekry, and Nathalie Alain, are college students whose studies include mass communications and industrial engineering. BMHS students took turns asking questions including: “What types of music do you like to listen to?” “How difficult is it to make a career out of singing in Egypt?” “What do you write songs about?” and “How do you feel about the United States having an African-American president?” "It was great for our students to talk to these three very talented, very well-spoken, and very intelligent young women," explained Andy Marafino, BMHS Director of Marketing. "And, they looked just as excited to be speaking with us as we were to be speaking with them."
One of the highlights of the hour-long session was when BMHS freshman Sabrina Matar '15, speaking in Arabic, asked the women what inspires them to sing. Another highlight was when the three women asked BMHS if there were any singers sitting in the audience. Freshman Annabelle Bertucci '15 sang "Someone Like You" by Adele which, appropriately, included the line "I wish nothing but the best for you." Before the session was finished, all three women individually sang for the BMHS students. "They were all phenomenal singers," said Marafino.
For more information about the "Sing Egyptian Women" project, click on the links.