Orbit: iraqi cultural chief visits youth orchestra

Iraqi cultural chief visits youth orchestra

05/10/2012 22:50

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Iraqi cultural chief visits youth orchestra

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The head of Iraq’s newly-opened cultural institute in the UK has had a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq at its Scottish rehearsal base ahead of its landmark performances later this month.

Dr Abdulrahman Dheyab, Head of the Iraqi Cultural Centre in London, visited the Orchestra at its Edinburgh summer camp to see it in practice for concerts in Glasgow, Edinburgh and London.

Dr Dheyab has been in Scotland as the Iraqi Government’s representative at the historic Edinburgh International Culture Summit, a partnership project between the British Council, Scottish Government, UK Government and Edinburgh International Festival held at the Scottish Parliament on Monday and Tuesday this week [August 13th and 14th].

The National Youth Orchestra of Iraq (NYOI) is a living example of peace and reconciliation. Established four years ago in Baghdad by then 17-year-old Zuhal Sultan, it has gone from strength to strength. Its 46 members are drawn from across Iraq’s ethnic and religious divides.

Despite the lack of access to music and instruments in Iraq during the Orchestra’s formation in 2008, Zuhal and Musical Director Paul MacAlindin personally recruited members of the Orchestra via YouTube to form the orchestra.

The young people, aged from 16 – 29 years old are spending two weeks at Edinburgh’s Jewel and Esk College for their annual summer school, where they will receive what is, for most of them, their only musical tuition for the year from carefully selected international tutors.

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The Orchestra will be supported at its performances later in August by members of the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra as well as guest soloists, Julian Lloyd Webber (cello) and Iraqi Khyam Allami (oud).

The Scottish Government and British Council have been instrumental in making this year’s project come to life.

The Scottish Government has allocated £100,000 of cash confiscated under proceeds of crime legislation towards the development of the orchestra and for its musicians to travel to and perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, while the British Council, the UK’s international cultural relations body, has provided £50,000 of funding and practical on-the-ground support.

The British Council has been involved with the orchestra from the start. Teams in London, Edinburgh and Baghdad have provided the orchestra with initial funding, helped the orchestra http://www.orbit-comms.co.uk/iraqi-cultural-chief-visits-youth-orchestra/

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Iraqi cultural chief visits youth orchestra

05/10/2012 22:50

leverage further finance, enabled it to hold summer schools in Erbil (Iraqi Kurdistan) for the young people, and provided mentoring and advice to put it on the path to long-term sustainability.

Zuhal Sultan developed her ambition to establish a National Youth Orchestra in Iraq while attending a World Youth Summit in London organised and funded by the British Council under their Global Changemakers Programme.

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The British Council has also helped the orchestra find sponsorship for the trip to the UK. Speaking after his visit, Dr Dheyab said: “The National Youth Orchestra is proof that young people from different backgrounds can work together in harmony, helping to show the real face of Iraq to the international community.”

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Lloyd Anderson, Director of the British Council in Scotland, said: “The National Youth Orchestra of Iraq is a powerful symbol of how culture can not only thrive in the toughest of environments, but also build bonds between nations.

“The British Council’s purpose is to build trust and opportunities between people in the UK and worldwide, so we are proud and delighted to have helped the orchestra to reach this major achievement of touring to Edinburgh, Glasgow and London.

“A project like this radiates optimism. For these young people, who have lived through the horrors of recent Iraqi history, this is a chance to show Scotland, the UK and the wider world the determination and talent of a new generation that will help ensure a better future.”

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, said: “This visit will afford these inspiring young musicians the opportunity to experience valuable cultural and creative opportunities. It will support their learning and love of classical music and encourage them to continue to collaborate and to share their culture internationally.

“Theirs is an amazing story of Kurdish and Iraqi Arab young people coming together to bring their music to the world – setting an example of peace and reconciliation by Iraqis for Iraq.

“Bringing the orchestra to Scotland will help to open doors for its musicians and gather further support from around the world. I am proud to welcome the orchestra during the Year of Creative Scotland.”

ENDS For further information please contact Orbit Communications on 0131 603 8996 or email contact@orbit-comms.co.uk Notes to editors 1. The first performance of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq takes place at Glasgow’s Royal Conservatoire on Saturday 25 August, beforemoving on to Edinburgh’s Greyfriar’s Kirk on Sunday 26 August as part of the world famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The final performance takes place at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre London on Tuesday 28 August.

2. The Scottish Government allocated £100,000 of cash confiscated under proceeds of crime legislation to the British Council Scotland to support the development of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq, and for them to travel to and perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2012. This funding was part of a £13.9 million confiscation order paid by Scottish engineering company Weir Group after they pleaded guilty to breaching UN sanctions against Iraq. The Scottish Government has agreed to provide further funding within an agreed limit to support the orchestra’s current fundraising efforts to meet the costs of its visit to Scotland.

3. British Council Scotland - British Council Scotland is Scotland’s gateway to the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We work in over 100 countries worldwide to build international opportunities and trust for Scotland through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people. We work in the areas of arts, education and society, and the English language. Last year we engaged over 30 million people worldwide and reached nearly 600 million through radio, TV and digital media. We are a non-political organisation which operates at arm’s length from government. Our total turnover in 2010/11 was £693 million, of which our grantin-aid from the British government was £190 million. For every £1 of core government grant we receive, we earn £2.65 from other sources. For more information see http://www.britishcouncil.org/scotland Share

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Iraqi cultural chief visits youth orchestra

05/10/2012 22:50

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