Founder & President

Joseph Alfred is a passionate violinist, choir conductor, and arts advocate based in Alexandria, Egypt, best known as the founder of CANTOS. Originally launched in June 2020 as the CANTOS Vocal Ensemble, the project has since evolved into the CANTOS Foundation for Arts & Development to build a sustainable, safe community for local artists.

Joseph Alfred has expanded CANTOS into a multifaceted artistic network in Egypt, moving from a single choir into registered foundational, educational, and commercial creative branches.

Professional Timeline & Executive Roles

• Violinist (2013–Present): Formally active for over 13 years as a solo performer across Western Classical, International, Pop, and traditional Oriental musical styles. [1]

• Violin Educator(2013–Present): Operates a private studio teaching solo violin performance, sheet music literacy, and playing by ear across Western and Oriental musical styles. [1]

• Orchestral Musician: Serves as a professional violinist within the Orchestra of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Egypt. [1]

• Institutional Educator: Formerly taught instrumental music and choir in many schools like the GEMS International School Somabay (2025-2026), the New Sunrise International School Hurghada (2018–2019) and Collège de la Mère de Dieu - Alexandrie (2018). [1]

• International Board Member (Feb 2025–Present): Elected to the board of Bjcem (Biennale des Jeunes Créateurs de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée) to design cross-border programs for young Euro-Mediterranean creators and to bridge Alexandria and Egyptian youth with Euro-Mediterranean art networks. [1]

• Choir Trainer & Conductor (2020–Present): Launched the independent CANTOS Vocal Ensemble & Orchestra in June 2020 following advanced masterclasses in choral conducting. [1]

• Foundation President (2024–Present): Officially establishedCANTOS for Arts (كانتوس للفنون) as a structural cultural foundation in August 2024. [1]

• Entertainment Executive (2024–Present): Formed the Cantos Entertainment Agency in November 2024 to book, manage, and provide commercial platforms for local musicians. [1]

Community Patronage & Event Presence

• Artistic Sponsorship: CANTOS frequently serves as the official artistic patron for regional civic events, such as orchestrating the live musical acts for the Egyptian Identity Celebration held at the Alexandria YMCA Theater. [1]

• Collaborative Programming: The space hosts community lectures, visual art gallery displays, and historic preservation discussions targeting local youth. [1]

1. Corporate & Foundational Architecture

Joseph Alfred has structured CANTOS into distinct musical, foundational, and commercial branches to serve the Egyptian independent art community: [1]

• CANTOS for Arts (كانتوس للفنون): Officially established on April 15, 2024, this is the registered structural non-profit cultural foundation managing community artistic initiatives. [1]

• Cantos Entertainment Agency: Formed on November 10, 2024, this serves as the commercial arm, booking and managing local musicians for live entertainment and regional events. [1]

• CANTOS Vocal Ensemble & Orchestra: The core performance group, actively operating as an independent A Cappella and instrumental ensemble since June 2020. [1, 2]

Vice-President

Dr. Christina Ebersohl-Van Scyoc is an American concert violist, researcher, author, and disability advocate who transitioned to a prominent classical music career after serving as a U.S. Army Arabic linguist. Her life and career are marked by structural adaptation, cross-cultural storytelling, and advocacy for accessibility in the arts.

Musical and Academic Achievements

• Education: Earned her Doctorate in Viola Performance and Literature (DMA) from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as an Illinois Distinguished Fellow.

• Carnegie Hall: Made her Carnegie Hall solo debut in July 2024.

• Leadership: Serves as the Editor for the Journal of the American Viola Society and Executive Secretary of the International Viola Society.

• Honors: Named a 2022 Pat Tillman Scholar for her continued cultural and community service.

Middle Eastern Research and Publications

• Debut Album: Released Viola al-Mashura (The Enchanted Viola) on Acis Productions, spotlighting contemporary works by Egyptian composers and Arabic diaspora artists.

• Literature: Authored Echoes of Cairo, a book exploring the histories, innovation, and musical legacies of mid-20th-century to modern Egyptian art musicians.

• Cultural Diplomacy: Frequently tours and performs across Switzerland, the United States, and Egypt to bridge Western classical performance with Arabic musical heritage.

Disability Advocacy

• Accessibility: Actively leads initiatives to make music education and professional classical stages fully accessible to disabled and blind musicians.

• Pedagogy: Runs a private teaching studio focusing on tactile body awareness, safe physical control, and non-canonical repertoire.

Secretary-General

Egyptian Music Composer
Professor of Music theory and composition at Cairo Conservatory, Academy of Arts.

Treasurer

Specialist in learning difficulties and special needs.

Community Education Project Manager at Matrouh Governorate.

Member

A businessman working for the sustainable green areas and reclamations.