After several weeks of hard work on all fronts, the Palestine Youth Orchestra (PYO) – launched in 2004 – succeeded in holding two successful performances in Ramallah and Nablus. Bringing together Palestinian youth within the ranks of an orchestra under the difficult circumstances of occupation is a remarkable feat in itself, a small step towards achieving the dream of reunifying all the Palestinian people in their homeland.

The orchestra members numbered 65, over and above two soloists and two conductors. Fortunately, the ESNCM was able to rely on the growing numbers of young Palestinian musicians residing inside Palestine, who were joined by a few young musicians from Europe, and guest members of the PYO from Egypt and Syria. The latter were only able to join the group during the last three days of rehearsal, following a difficult struggle to secure permissions for them to enter Palestine.

The program included Rossini’s “Thieving Magpie” overture; Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1, played exquisitely by the rising Palestinian star from Nazareth, Fadi Deeb, who is currently pursuing studies in the USA after teaching for a year at the ESNCM; Roger Johansson’s contemporary piece “Fi Dikhra Al Haram” for orchestra and oud, and excerpts from Shostakovich’s music to “The Gadfly”.

The orchestra was led by the charismatic young Spanish conductor, Hilari Garcia Gasquez from the University of Valencia, with the exception of Johansson’s piece, which was conducted by the Swedish composer himself. The piece was composed for outstanding oudist and member of the ESNCM Oriental Music Ensemble and Karloma, Ahmad Al Khatib, who performed it as soloist despite having been given a permit to enter Palestine only one day before the performance!

The PYO celebrates its eighth year in Ramallah and Nablus

No. 25 | Spring – Summer 2011

The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music

The performances, which took place at the Ramallah Cultural Palace and the new Prince Turki Bin Abdul Aziz Theatre at Al-Najah National University of Palestine in Nablus, were widely attended and highly acclaimed by the audiences present. The orchestra was keen to open new musical horizons for Palestinian youth and audiences by introducing innovative contemporary works such as Johansson’s. It was also a unique experience for members of the orchestra to have the composer conduct his own piece. The energy he emitted while conducting his own composition resulted in beautiful harmonic passages in the hands of young orchestra musicians, and brought innovative new sound worlds to Palestinian audiences.

The PYO spent 10 intensive rehearsal days at the Birzeit Activities Center, during which several expert orchestral musicians, hailing from various parts of the world, some as volunteers, came to coach the different sections. The coaches included Alessio Benvenuti from Italy, Peter Sulski from the U.S.A, Heather Bursheh from Palestine, Tom Hammond from the UK, Ulla Benz from Germany, Nesrine Belmokh from France, Priscila Vela Vico from Spain and Torbjorn Ottersen from Norway.

Prior to the orchestra performances in Ramallah and Nablus, students and teachers of the orchestra gave a spectacular, charming summer evening outdoor performance to an audience of almost 300 people, who followed the music through the streets of Birzeit’s historic center. The performance kicked off with a brass ensemble performing from a roof-top, followed by a percussion ensemble that livened up spirits on the municipality terrace, Palestinian and Serbian musicians performing Serbian folk music in

the square, and intimate renditions of Britten, Mozart and Rossini – Arabized through popular folk melodies – emanated from the Hosh el Eliya restaurant. The students’ finale was a performance of antiphonal music by Gabrielli in the Latin church, where brass musicians lined up on opposite sides of the building, the audience sitting in the middle.

During rehearsals, we had the opportunity to listen to the comments of a number of staff members and participants:

Michele Cantoni, academic director of the ESNCM and artistic director of the orchestras, felt that the PYO, now in its eighth year, is well established and has reaffirmed its competence as a young orchestra. He was pleased that this year the orchestra introduced a number of new young participants, and tackled music of a higher caliber, which was a challenge to the young musicians and teachers alike.

Mostafa Fahmy, a violist from Egypt, who also participated in the PNO project earlier this year, commented that his friends in Egypt envy him for being in Palestine for the second time, a place so deeply revered in the heart of every Arab. Horn player Rawad Abu Mahmoud, who studied at the Syrian national institute of music and continues his studies in Rostock, Germany, said: “when I first crossed the military check-point at the bridge I felt like a stranger facing a difficult journey, but when I entered the Palestinian controlled territory, I felt relaxed and very much at home amongst my own people.”

Roger Johansson, whose ever-present smile endeared him to all, explained that the piece he composed for

Ahmad Al Khatib and the PYO was meant to embody the relationship between east and west. It has liberated itself from the classical orchestral form to embrace the magical expression of the orient.

Faten A Malek, a Palestinian living in Egypt, had not visited Palestine before. Tears studded her eyes when she said: “I have been hearing from my grandmother, for ever for so long, about Palestine and the orange groves in Jaffa where she came from, but to see all this on the ground is a different feeling altogether. I am so fortunate that playing the contrabass and the universal language of music, gave me the opportunity to come back to my roots”. Reaffirming Faten’s passions, PYO volunteer Ranya

Baramki observed that one of the reasons the PYO 2011 was such a unique experience, was “because it was held on Palestinian lands, which permitted one Palestinian musician who had grown up in Egypt, to see her country for the first time”.

The 2011 PYO annual workshops were supported by the office of the Prime Minister, the A.M.Qattan Foundation / the Qattan Fund for performing Arts project 2011, Simon Kouba’s engineering firm, the DROSOS Foundation, the Housing Bank, the Iberian Music Institute IIMI and with the cooperation of the Palestinian Ministry of Culture.

“Palestine Strings” and “Danadeesh” on tour in the U.S.A.After performing pre-tour concerts in Ramallah and Bethlehem, the ESNCM student string ensemble Palestine strings travelled with Danadeesh, a young dance troupe from Sariyyeh Ramallah, on a concert tour of the USA, covering six states: Florida, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Michigan, Texas, and California.

The sixteen young violin and viola students were coached and led by Swedish violinist Eva Bogren, and accompanied by Dina Shilleh on piano and Eliot Bogren on electric bass. The performances thrilled audiences as they watched the young musicians move freely on stage to exciting arrangements of popular classics, world folk, tango, and well known classical and film melodies, all played from memory and choreographed especially for the group.

The sparkling young string players included: Afnan Abbasi, Aline Massoud, Carol Ibrahim, Chiara Ayyad, Costa Mustaklem, Lordina Baboon, Marina Eishberg, Majd Kurzom, Nassim Halabi, Nour Joudeh, Rena al Haj Abed, Sama Tarazi, Hala Abu Alzulof, Marmar Joulani, Rawand al Hasanat, and Dima Khashan.

The string group toured with Danadeesh, a young dabkeh dance troupe, made up of 16 girls and boys between the ages of 14 and 16 years. They danced passionately to traditional Palestinian folk songs, asserting their national identity with pride, and inspiring hope and confidence in a free Palestine. For the past 3 years, the Sariyyeh dance school – established in 2005 – has been generously supported by Muna and Basem Hishmeh from New Jersey. The school trains some 100 students, between the ages of 3 and 15 years, in the art of ballet, contemporary dance and Palestinian folk dance.

The Palestine Strings and Danadeesh joint tour, which received raving reviews in the U.S, Was initiated and funded by the Muna and Basem Hishmeh fund, in co-operation with the American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine.

Impressions and reflections

During the USA tour, Basem Hishmeh pointed out: “in the states these young students receive a golden opportunity to live freely without facing demeaning checkpoints and imprisoning walls, on a daily basis. Here, their only concern is studying music freely.” Reflecting upon the tour, he described it as “a good will message of hope and freedom. Whether Muslim or Christian, they represent self-respect and pride in their Palestinian-Arab culture. They perform, sing and dance in peace: their’s is the radiant face of Palestinians under occupation.”

Nasim Al Halabi, a violin student and 14 year-old Palestine Strings member, described his experience as “unforgettable. Feelings of exhaustion were superseded by absolute enjoyment. The program of the concert is inscribed in my memory forever, after two years of training.”

Sixteen year-old violinist Chiara Ayad, now in her 7th grade at the ESNCM, described the trip as very educational, adding that the Palestinian youth performing successfully, expressed to the audience their longing for a free homeland, and their firm belief in a brighter future. She reported having met an Arab writer after one of the performances who approached her saying: “Edward Said would have been very proud to have his name associated with a conservatory producing such fine levels of musicianship”.

Eleven year-old dancer from the Danadeesh dance troupe, Yara Abu Khadijeh, fondly recalled cementing her relations with fellow dance students, and forming new friendships

with the ESNCM students of the Palestine Strings. She describes the performances as being very enjoyable and very well received, but she said above all, performing with students from the city dance school was an important cross-cultural experience. She also appreciated having had the opportunity to visit famous touristic sites and cultural centers in the U.S.

Mr. Fayeq Khoury, managing director of the Sareyet Ramallah, evaluated the benefits of the tour on two levels: firstly, it raised the awareness amongst the American public, including those of Arab origin, concerning the current state of artistic development achieved in Palestine. Secondly, it promoted opportunities for further cooperation among the local cultural institutions in Palestine. Mr. Khoury has expressed his sincere thanks to Muna and Basem Hishmeh for their unwavering support of the Sariyyeh and the ESNCM and for making this tour possible, and also graciously thanked the Arab Palestinian ex-pat community, the Ramallah Club and American Federation of Ramallah, as well as the alumni members of the Sariyyieh, for generously hosting the young visiting artists throughout their tour.

Group photo of Palestine Strings and Danadeesh with Mrs. & Mr. Muna and Basem Hishmeh in the US.

Jasmine festival in springHonoring the spirit of the Tunisian “Jasmine” revolution, whose repercussions continue to reverberate throughout the Arab world, the ESNCM held a month-long music festival from March 13 to April 17. The concert series was launched in Jerusalem, and spread to the cities of Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, Jericho, Hebron, Shafa Amer and the occupied Golan. Local and international musicians performed concerts of world music, jazz, Arabic music and classical music including orchestral, chamber, vocal choral ensembles. Explaining the festival theme, ESNCM activities coordinator, Mohammad Maragha said, “Spring is the season of rejuvenation and revival; nature’s seasonal cycles remind us that harsh winters are soon replaced by warmth of summer and similarly when a nation seeks freedom, the world will respond.” Discussing the success of the festival program in connection to its theme, he added, “among the highlights of the festival was a historic first time orchestral concert in Hebron, which was received with great excitement and appreciation.”

Mumken (What if?) – The sounds of Palestinian Youth

In Bethlehem a group of young musicians set to music the lyrics of contemporary local poets such as: Mahmoud Abu Hashhash, Waddah Zaqtan, Sami Mitwasi and Sami Salhi. Lead singer Ranya Qawas described the mood of the newly formed group as “a reflection of the anxiety, sorrow and frustration of young Palestinians today, and an articulation of their aspirations, dreams and visions for the future. By posing the question ‘what if?’ They open the doors of creative imagination, and by analyzing the past they hope to play a role in determining their future.”

“Mishwar’ with Nai Barghouti

A talented flute student from Ramallah – Nai Barghouti – still just 14 years old, performed two solo concerts of classical music in Ramallah and Jerusalem, accompanied on the piano by her teacher Heather Bursheh. Nai began taking flute lessons at eight, and has since won several prizes, among them two first prizes at the Palestine National Music Competition. Nai’s stage presence reflected her confident, expressive performance, and depicted a mature style despite her youth. The audience particularly appreciated her two original compositions, entitled ‘Qana’, and ‘ZicZak Jazz’.

Ramzy suleiman – fast forward from the roots

Palestinian-American jazz pianist, singer, teacher and composer, Ramzy Suleiman, spent a month – long residency at the Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jerusalem branches of ESNCM. Ramzy originally hails from the town of Al Bireh, where he used to spend his summer vacations as a child with his grandparents, and explains that these memories became an invaluable source for the lyrics of his blues songs, which he performed at the festival. His soulful music expresses deep longing for a homeland, suffocating under occupation, and before leaving, he promised his inspired students a return visit and further sessions in jazz improvisations.

Fantasia – lamees and wafa

Fantasia is an original adventure into the fusion of oriental and classical western music by pianist Lamees Audeh and her husband, the qanoun player Wafa Zaghal. They were joined by Ma’en Ghoul on percussion and violist Samer Rashed. The program consisted largely of oriental compositions such as oriental nahawand, eastern breeze, andalusia, and longa, and an original work composed

Nay Barghouthi and Heather Bursheh in Mishwar

by the duo entitled “the prisoner”, dedicated to Wafa’s brother – himself a released prisoner. The result was a beautiful dialogue between the qanoun and the piano performed by two accomplished composer/performers.

Angelo Comisso – metamorphosis of the imagination

Angelo Comisso considers his solo piano performing as “an ongoing research into the combination of contemporary refined music, European jazz and total improvisation”. Through his improvisational concerts in Jerusalem and Ramallah on the 24th and 26th of March, the audiences were allowed to “open the pages of his intimate journal and to observe a great part of his personality.” The concert program, aptly entitled “Metamorphosis of the Imagination”, saw Comisso transcend his own memories, emotions, inner delights, and reflections on this heartbreaking contemporary world.

The ESNCM Orchestra makes history

After an intensive workshop at the Birzeit Activities Center, students and faculty from all branches played an historic – first-ever – orchestral concert in Hebron on April 16, 2011, under the baton of Columbian conductor Juan David Molano, now principal conductor of the ESNCM orchestra and of the Jerusalem Children’s Orchestra. The same program was also performed in Jerusalem and Ramallah. The orchestra invited two special guests: the oboist Nicola Barbagli, from the Geneva Conservatory in Switzerland, and Torbjorn Ottersen, principal timpanist of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, who also coached piano students Mira Abu Zulof and Husam Barham in orchestral percussion, in addition to performing some pieces with the orchestra himself.

The concert program opened with Mozart’s overture to Don Giovanni, followed by the first movement of his piano concerto no. 20 – In d minor – with talented 15-year-old soloist Sasha Khoury, a student of Nadia Abboushi at the

Ramallah branch. Sasha began studying piano at the age of 5, and has won several prizes in local and national competitions. The third item on the program was ‘Valse Triste’ by Sibelius, conducted by Zeina Khoury, a graduate of ESNCM currently studying conducting in Rotterdam, and the exciting finale, was a collection of colorful Czech dances from Dvorak’s Czech suite.

Rim Banna – Mirrors of the Soul (Maraya El Rooh)

Joined on stage by ESNCM guitar teacher Luke Mayer, the popular Palestinian singer Rim Al Banna, sang from her heart to enthusiastic audiences at Al Najah National University in Nablus, and Beit Al-Tifel in Hebron. Her songs – spanning lyrical, folkloric and patriotic music, moved her listeners both young and old. Rim Banna dedicated her concerts to the martyrs of the Arab spring revolts.

Ognenka Gerasimovska – ESNCM pianist from Macedonia

Ognenka Gerasimovska, a piano teacher at the Jerusalem and Bethlehem branches, gave a piano recital of classical music at the Peace Center in Bethlehem.

Opus – faculty chamber ensemble, and the bridge trio, featuring aidan pendleton

Aidan Pendleton and Liesbeth Debruyne (violins), Marco Mazzi (viola), and Katy Whittle (cello), all string teachers at the ESNCM, performed concerts at the Ramallah, Jericho and Nablus branches. The program included Mozart’s “dissonance” string quartet, and Beethoven’s string trio in c minor: a purely classical program, executed with delicate refinement and powerful expression. Aidan Pendleton also performed on the viola with the Bridge Trio, an ensemble of professors from the Geneva Conservatory – in an all-classical program at the Peace center in Bethlehem. During the week prior to the concert the members of the Bridge Trio gave intensive chamber music masterclasses to students of the ESNCM’s Bethlehem branch.

Fantasia in the Jasemine Festival

The Saphire Trio – violin, clarinet and pianoThis was the second visit of the celebrated American all female trio to Palestine, having previously been on the jury of the 2010 national music competition. Their program was entertaining, colorful and virtuosic, and their stage presence warm and friendly. ESNCM students look forward to attending more of their master classes, workshops and performances in the future.

Dozan Wa Awtar – denied entryUnfortunately, the long-awaited performance by the choral group led by Shereen Abu Khater from Jordan, had to be cancelled after the group was not permitted to enter Palestine by the Israeli occupying authorities, much to the disappointment of their Palestinian friends and counterparts.

Aix-En-Provence Conservatoire – jazz group – featuring the singer Cecile Mclorin SalvantThe final concert of the festival was given by the Aix-En-Provence Conservatoire’s jazz group, who performed in Bethlehem and Jerusalem, led by the powerful voice of Cecile Mclorin Salvant. Her expressive vocal style is reminiscent of the female jazz idols Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan. Mclorin Salvant, whose roots are both African-American and French, praised the Palestinian audience, saying that she “enjoyed singing to such a receptive audience who clearly appreciate good jazz music.”

The ESNCM wishes to extend its deep appreciation and gratitude to all those who supported the jasmine festival especially:

The European Union –the main sponsor, and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture – AFAC, Arab Company for Medical and Agricultural Products (ARABCO), SIDA, the DROSOS Foundation, Fondation Les instruments de La Paix, UNESCO, in collaboration with various cultural centers and Palestinian institutes and companies, who offered there support to the festival.

Maqamat in France

Between the 10th and 15th of June, the Jerusalem branch’s Arabic music ensemble – Maqamat – participated in three outstanding concerts of classical, national and tarab songs at the international music schools festival in France. The distinguished Palestinian presence was organized in joint cooperation with the French Cultural Center (CCF) in Jerusalem. The talented students, coached by qanoun teacher Wafa Zaghal, were: Miral Khoury (qanoun), Muhammad Ghosheh (violin), Osama Abu Arafeh (oud), Hiba Omari (cello), Nai Barghouti (voice), and Abdelsalam Sabbah, on percussion. A month earlier, on May 12th, Maqamat had also helped celebrate the 10,000th anniversary of Jericho, the most ancient city in the world. A brilliantly lit ceremony, took place at the archeological site of Hisham’s palace. Maqamat continued to give performances in Jerusalem throughout June, July and August.

“Out of place”

On June 7th the ESNCM Oriental music ensemble was invited to perform at the Darat Al Funun art center in Amman, Jordan. They played original compositions and masterpieces of classical Arabic music, in a show entitled “Out Of Place”.

The effect of the ESNCM music programs on students lives

A recent research funded by CORDAID and SIDA, investi-gated the impact of music education on ESNCM students’ daily lives. Specialized study groups were formed, involv-ing individual and collective interviews with students, parents, staff and employees of various cultural centers and cultural activists from the community who frequently attend concerts. The study, which was commissioned to an external consultancy office revealed the positive impact of the ESNCM’s music programs in four different areas of students’ lives: psychological health, skills devel-opment, family relationships, and social relationships. Among the main achievements were: positive impact on self-confidence; academic performance, notably in math-ematics; teamwork; and cultural identity. The study will soon become available on the ESNCM’s web site.

Rima Tarazi and Tania Nasir: a musical commemoration of the poet and national

leader Kamal Nasir (1925-1973)

The ESNCM held two unique concerts in collaboration with Palfest and Birzeit University, commemorating the birthday and martyrdom of the poet Kamal Nasir. Under the title of his only work published during his lifetime, ”Jirahon Tughanni” (singing wounds). Performances were held at the Friends Boys School in Al Bireh on the 18th of April and another on the 20th of April (the date of his birth), at the Kamal Nasir Hall of Birzeit University.

The musical program consisted of a medley of Kamal Nasir’s anthems and long poems, composed mainly by a group of musicians who studied and taught at Birzeit College, and was performed by a choral group of seven singers, with the soprano Tania Tamari Nasir accompanied by composer Rima Nasir Tarazi on the piano. The program was preceded by a live recording of Kamal Nasir’s voice reciting his poem, “a letter to my mother”, accompanied by the music of Palestinian composer Salvador Arnita, and a projection of a number of photographs spanning various phases of his life and struggle. This was followed by speeches from Dr. Karim Abu khashan of the Arabic department of Birzeit University, writer Ahdaf Soueif of Palfest, Dr. Khalil Hindi, president of Birzeit University and Rima Tarazi, who dedicated this program to all Palestinian martyrs, and shared with the audience her personal experience as a composer and the special relationship Kamal Nasir had with the nationalist anthem. In her address she pointed out that Kamal’s interest in music started ever since his student days at Birzeit College, during an era in Palestinian history where the nationalist anthem played an important role in mobilizing masses.

She also pointed out that the program aimed to highlight Kamal Nasir’s contribution to the national anthem as someone who expressed with total commitment through poetry, the aspirations and struggles of his people, through several phases of Palestinian history, for which

he paid with his life, (he was assassinated by an israeli death squad in Beirut in April 1973 along with two other Palestinian leaders: Kamal Idwan and Mohammad Yousef Al Najjar, and Al Najjar’s wife, Rasmiyeh Abu El Khair).

On this occasion, the ESNCM issued a booklet of all his poems that were put to music by the various composers, with a short synopsis of every composer. The book includes tributes written by Nizar Qabbani, Mahmoud Darwish, and Fadwa Touqan.

Arab and Balkan music meets jazz in Norway and Serbia

From May 10th to the 14th, ESNCM students from Jerusalem, Ramallah and Bethlehem performed at the Trondheim JazzFest in Norway, alongside young traditional musicians and professional jazz artists from Serbia, Bosnia, Romania, Croatia and Norway. Led by Serbian accordionist and composer Jovan Pavlovic and funded by the Norwegian Tutti Foundation, the Palestinian students introduced Palestinian music, including a piece by Simon Shaheen, to the international group of students and professionals, who made their own jazz arrangements of the music as a group, with the Palestinian musicians helping arrange folk music from the Balkans, Argentina and Norway. Following the festival in Norway, the Palestinian students were invited to perform a concert organized by the city municipality in Belgrade, Serbia, and a private performance for music professors and diplomats in Serbia, held at the residence of the Norwegian Ambassador to Serbia (and former Ambassador to Palestine), Nils Kamsfag. The group has been re-invited to Norway in November, and two Serbian violinists took part in the PYO concerts in Nablus and Ramallah in August. The Palestinian music students in the group were: Christine Zayed and Sama Salem (qanun), Samer Rashed (viola), Osama Abu Arafeh (oud), and Alber Basil on percussion. The Tutti Foundation hopes to bring the workshops to Palestine next summer, expanding the Palestinian element of the group.

ESNCM initiates a new summer program

For the first time, five new courses were offered in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Nablus, as part of an intensive six-week semester. During the new summer semester both new and continuing students, of all ages, met three times a week with teachers from all four ESNCM branches. Course descriptions are: “Anamel” intensive individual instrumental classes for beginners as well as intermediate to advanced grade students, “Salalem”; specialized music theory classes for ESNCM students, “Natateef” (bits and pieces); instrumental orientation classes in which young students learn the basics of playing 4 to 6 different instruments, “Sama’i”; a general music appreciation course of western and Arabic music for all music-lovers in the community including parents of ESNCM students, and “Maghna”, choral singing classes in each branch with a joint grand choral concert at the end of the summer semester.

Computerized data base

At long last, the eagerly awaited database program, for the fast expanding ESNCM, funded by DROSOS and CORDAID, is being prepared by the Birzeit University computer center. Besides all the student’s academic records, the computerized human resources program will cover data of staff and employees, schedules, vacations etc. In all four ESNCM branches.

“Shusmo” performed several concerts organized by the ESNCM

On July 25th, Tareq Abboushi and his band Shusmo, from New York, performed original Abboushi compositions based on an organic fusion of Arabic music and jazz.

Preceding the Jerusalem concert, Shusmo toured four outreach posts as arranged by the ESNCM. All concerts were a raging success on all fronts, and as a result of the particularly enthusiastic audience response, the conservatory is sure to expand its ties with the northern Tulkarm region: Deir El-Ghsoun and Bala’a, Salfeet (Farkha festival), and Anabta (Wadi Al-Shaeer festival).

‘Sabeel’ with Ahmad Al-Khatib and Yousef Hbeicsh

Following his performance with the PYO, and celebrating a rare appearance in Palestine, oud maestro Ahmad Al-Khatib joined percussionist Youssef Hbeish in an outstanding performance at the Sakakini Cultural Center on the 20th of August. Billing the concert under the title ‘Sabeel’, the name of their first cd as a duet, they performed a number of very well received compositions including “The Rose Vendor”, “A Wedding”, “Salma’s Dance”, and “To Our Friend Alex”.

ESNCM students participate in summer camps in Sweden and the USA

Jaber Jubran (qanun), and Mira Abu Zulof (piano), participated in a 10-day international folk music summer camp in Ratvik, Sweden. Participants introduced their community’s music through training and playing with an orchestra made up of students from various parts of the world. The ESNCM participants taught their colleagues ‘Bint El Shalabiyeh’, which was part of a variety program the orchestra presented in a tour of several Swedish towns.

In the USA, flute student Nai Barghouti participated in William Patterson University’s 18th jazz festival, part of the continued cooperation between wpu and the ESNCM, between the 17th and 23rd of July. Nai’s participation was privately funded by Mr. Basem Hishmeh.

Bethlehem branch musicians visit Sweden

Six ESNCM students, mostly from the Bethlehem branch, led by oud teacher Tamer Sahouri, visited Sweden following an invitation from the Performing Arts Festival, Gothenburg (20-22 of June), where they held three very successful performances and gave a workshop on oriental music as part of the exchange program with Gothenburg University. The students were: Bisher Qassis, Jaber Jubran, Rua Rishmawi, Alber Basil, John Saliba and Ayham Albess.

ESNCM ensembles in the Jerusalem Festival

The ESNCM oriental music ensemble and Maqamat, held two outstanding performances in the Jerusalem Festival in July. The first performance was entitled “Mawtini”, featuring vocalists Marian Baransi from Haifa, and Hani Asad from Jerusalem, accompanied by a group of ESNCM student and teacher instrumentalists. In the second performance, Wafa Al Zaghal led singer Samira Kharrubi and students from the conservatory in a program of classical Arabic music.

The graduation ceremony in the three branches….indicators of joy and progress

The ESNCM has marked the end of the academic year in its three branches by concerts organized between 17-19the May. The graduation ceremonies included distribution of certificates for 16 graduates who had completed the 4th level and received the elementary certificates. Two students, Yanal Shaheen and Tamer Sahoury, had completed their 8th levels and obtained the intermediate certificate.

Educational concerts in Nablus schools and beyond

Throughout March 2011, the ESNCM produced a series of educational concerts aimed at introducing music to a number of schools in the Nablus and Toubas governates. With the support of the Ministry of Education and the DROSOS Foundation – as the major donor to the Nablus branch – Ibrahim Atari, director of the Ramallah branch, Samer Totah (Oud), Ashraf Affouri (Nay), Yacoub Hammoudeh (Qanoun), and Maher Shafi’ (Violin), gave performances in thirty different schools in Nablus, Toubas and Salfit.

The teacher Ibrahim Al-Atari introducing music to one of Nablus’ schools

Summer camps: Music education is fun!At the Birzeit Activities Center, summer is a time for intensive group training, music making, sports activities, development of hobbies, and active entertainment provided by teachers, guest musicians and students alike. This year – 2011 – the ESNCM organized three main camps. The first, for the Jerusalem Orchestra and choir, was held from June 28 to July 2, and led by Spanish pedagogue and composer David Galvez. The second, an outreach camp, was held from July 5 to 9, and the third, a general camp open to all students studying at the 4 main ESNCM branches, assembled from July 11 to 17, included advanced private classes, chamber music in Arabic and classical western music, jazz improvisation, theory and solfege, music history lectures, etc. On the last day of each camp, musicians and groups performed with a sense of pride and achievement.

The “Orchestre de Chambre d’Anjou” gives performances in

Birzeit, Ramallah and Nablus

Seventeen young musicians from the Orchestre de Chambre d’Anjou, based in Angers, France, participated in the ESNCM general music camp in Birzeit, and delivered exciting performances of orchestral and chamber music with the participation of 6 teachers and students from the ESNCM. The group performed in the Latin Church and Birzeit Activities Center, Birzeit, the Folklore Camp in Ramallah, and the Zafer Masri Hall in Nablus.

International music day

On June 22nd, faculty and student ensembles of both Arabic and western classical music, celebrated international music day at the French-german cultural center in Ramallah.

A new website

A new updated website in both english and Arabic has been launched at: http://ncm.birzeit.edu

Up-to-date information on all activities, news, and forthcoming projects, are presented in colored prints and

attractive design with various related links and videos.

Angers Orchestra in the Latin Church, Birzeit

Ruba Anabtawi – Media CoordinatorRanabtawi@ncm.birzeit.eduPhotography & Design: Fares MansourTranslated by: Nadia Aboushi – Edited by: Tim Pottier

Jerusalem +972. 6271711Bethlehem branch +972. 2748726Ramallah branch +972. 2959070Nablus branch +972. 2387773

Melodies of Hope gives the chance for Palestinian refugee children in Lebanon to study at the Lebanese Higher National Conservatory of Music

A new project has recently been launched in partnership with the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music, in coop-eration with the Al Jana Association, who works with marginalized communities. It aims at offering opportunities for talented children from refugee camps in Lebanon, to receive a musical education at the Lebanese Higher National Conservatory of Music.

After a three day intensive work-shop in Brummana school, under the guidance of seven music teach-ers, 45 students were selected from the Sabra and Shatila,Ein Al Hilweh, Burj Al Barajneh, Mar Elias and Nahr El Bared camps. The students will become regular students at the Lebanese conservatory, with the ESNCM paying their fees, providing for their instruments and books, and following up on their progress as young musicians.

Commenting on his experience with the camp children in Brummana, oudist Ahmad Al Khatib observed: “it was amazing how talented those children were, despite the fact that they had no musical background whatsoever. It seems that creativity is often born out of suffering.” The project was supported by Ms Sirin Masri (Al-Najwa Tourism Investment Company), The International Educational Institution – through the offices of the FORD foundation – and by numerous friends and board members of the ESNCM.

http://ncm.birzeit.Edu