Ahmed El‑Salamouny is a German‑Egyptian nylon‑string guitarist based in Munich, who studied classical guitar under Barna Kovats at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. Since 1981 he has built a worldwide performing career – from Brazil and North America to Europe and Asia – and is widely recognized as a leading interpreter of Brazilian music. He leads an annual guitar workshop in Salvador, Brazil, teaches internationally, publishes instructional books and articles and has collaborated with luminaries such as Peter Finger, Duo Assad, Claudio Menandro, Gilson de Assis and Don Ross.

Virtuosic magic

Ahmed combines excellent classical technique on the acoustic guitar with the rhythmic vitality of Brazilian genres – samba, bossa, choro, forró – and subtly infuses them with Arabic, Spanish and jazz accents. His playing is often described as poetic, dreamy yet virtuosic – with precise articulation and timing as well as an expressive flair. Critics praise him as playing "like a real Brazilian" – despite his European origins, producing "virtuosic magic" with emotional warmth.