Dr Hawass Receives the Golden Medal Award

During a gala ceremony at the Spanish Embassy in Cairo, Spanish ambassador to Egypt Antonio López Martinez presented to Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), the “Golden Medal of the Royal Band,” in recognition of his devotion and untiring efforts to promote and protect Egypt’s cultural and archaeological heritage. This award is given by the government of the Spanish province of Ourense to honor cultural personalities around the world.

During the celebration, Martinez highlighted the strong and warm relationship between Egypt and Spain in many different areas. He emphasized that the visit of Their Majesties king Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia early this month reflects the wide-ranging cooperation between the two countries in culture and archaeology. Their Majesties were in Egypt to inaugurate with Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak an exhibition, held in the Prince Taz Palace, celebrating Ibn Khaldun.

The Royal Band’s director described the Golden Medal as among the most important and prestigious in Spain. It has previously been given to Their Majesties the king and queen of Spain, as well as His Holiness Pope John Paul II. The band’s director presented to Dr. Hawass an authentic bagpipe, one of the band’s musical instruments. Dr. Hawass was greatly impressed with the event, and enjoyed listening to a performance by the band.

The Royal Band is a symphonic group of bagpipes, which is unique in the world for its composition and form and which uses discipline as a constant referent in all their work. The Royal Band inspires the public through performances infused with the joy and charm of youth, which unites peoples from all over the world with its message. The Royal Band represents the maximum artistic expression of the thousands of students that study the secrets of the Galician pipes at the provincial Pipe School in Ourense. As well as being a channel for the students of the school, the Royal Band is an important source of pride. The pipes are a national symbol of Galicia, taking the spirit of Galicia to all corners of the world. The seed of this musical institution was planted by the Royal Band’s founder and director Xosé Lois Foxo.

Band members wear the classic 18th century full-dress costume. On special occasions, they don the ancient tudense costume of medieval origin. The band’s repertoire includes the most representative melodies from the musical tradition of Galicia and other Celtic nations as well as melodies from different cultures worldwide. The Royal Band play in the most star filled moments of the social and cultural calender of Galicia, as well as in TV specials dedicated to the region. This band has taken its music and magic to the farthest reaches of the world, including Asia, America, and Europe.

 

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