Telegraph:Queen's master of music takes up baton with national youth orchestra of iraq telegraph

Queen's Master of Music takes up baton with National Youth Orchestra of Iraq - Telegraph

9/26/13 5:54 PM

Queen's Master of Music takes up baton with National Youth Orchestra of Iraq The Queen's Master of Music, who lives nearly 3,000 miles from Baghdad, has become the first composer "in residence" of the newly-formed National Youth Orchestra of Iraq.

Sir Peter, 74, said he would travel to Iraq next year to teach and meet the orchestra, which is seeking ÂŁ100,000 to help it develop Photo: STEPHEN LOCK

By Auslan Cramb 7:14PM GMT 21 Dec 2008

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies plans to write an overture for the orchestra and visit Iraq for the first time next year to teach.

Members of the orchestra are said to risk death just by playing Western classical instruments, and will audition and receive lessons over the internet due to the security risks.

Its musical director is the Aberdeen-born conductor Paul MacAlindin and was developed by the 17year-old pianist Zuhal Sultan who lives in Baghdad, where music shops have been attacked by Islamic fundamentalists.

She is also a member of the senior Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra whose members have been threatened with kidnap.

Because of the security risks the youth orchestra, with musicians ranging in age from 14 to 25, will meet outside Baghdad. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3885348/Queens-Master-of-Music-takes-up-baton-with-National-Youth-Orchestra-of-Iraq.html

Page 1 of 2

Queen's Master of Music takes up baton with National Youth Orchestra of Iraq - Telegraph

9/26/13 5:54 PM

Mr MacAlindin, who is based in Cologne, said: "We will be inviting applications from all over Iraq.

One of the biggest problems is finding teachers in Iraq. Those that were there have either left or have been killed. Instruments are also hard to come by. It is a miracle this is happening at all.

"But the internet lessons should be set-up by the end of January and we hope to have a summer school. Lessons will be in English, Kurdish and Arabic, reflecting the diversity of the players.

"The auditions will be by video, though there's always the unreliability of the technology and the power cuts to contend with."

Sir Peter, 74, said he would travel to Iraq next year to teach and meet the orchestra, which is seeking ÂŁ100,000 to help it develop.

"I was outraged over the invasion of Iraq," he said. "But music has a part to play in its healing.

"I think this youth orchestra is one of the most remarkable things I have ever heard of and I am proud to be its composer in residence, even though I am a long way from being in residence in Iraq.

"Out of the destruction and killing of Iraq has come the joy and love of the universal power of music.

It is quite moving."

Š Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2013

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3885348/Queens-Master-of-Music-takes-up-baton-with-National-Youth-Orchestra-of-Iraq.html

Page 2 of 2