Dubai Culture supports 5th Dubai International Peace Music Festival

The opening ceremony concert was held in Dubai on Saturday continues for 3 days from 5-7 April, featuring the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Premier Music College in Prague.

H.R.H. Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is the Honorary Patron of the festival, which is being organised under the banner of peace and the inspiration of the harmonious coexistence of so many nationalities in Dubai. Continuing through Tuesday, the festival features two other concerts - on Sunday 5th April in Sharjah and Tuesday 7th April in Dubai.

The goal of the festival is to encourage interest in classical music among young people and to cultivate talent in the UAE, in order to achieve the objective of establishing a national symphony orchestra with a strong cadre of young UAE nationals at its core. But above all, promoting peace is at the heart of the festival's activities. Through music and the active participation of children, the festival evokes two of the most powerful and universally recognised symbols of peace.

Not only is the festival promoting classical music within the youth community but it also is helping a substantial group of young people, with proceeds from the event going to the UAE Red Crescent and its activities and programmes to support children in need.

Saeed Al Nabouda, Chief Project Officer of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), said, "The focus on peace, and the multicultural character of both the festival and the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra fit perfectly with our objectives, including our interest in celebrating and stimulating multicultural dialogue across different nationalities from all over the world and contributing to the renaissance of culture and arts in the region."

Riad Kudsi, Founder, Director and Conductor of the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra, said,

"The importance of music to current and future generations cannot be underestimated. Classical music can play the role of an international language that transcends cultures and borders, thereby serving as the foundation for the peace that we all hope to achieve. By nurturing young talent, we grow the seeds of peace."

The festival is one of the first major events that the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has supported since it announced its new brand identity, developed in response to changing times and reflective of its evermore dynamic, synergetic and versatile character. The organisation is driven by a vision to position Dubai as a vibrant, Arabian, global city that helps shape culture and art in the region and the world, and by a mission to create an environment that facilitates and inspires cultural activity.

Kudsi established the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra in 1993. Since then, the ensemble has continued to grow and has performed in international music festivals in the Czech Republic, France, Kuwait, and Oman. Some of the orchestra's previous members, who completed their academic studies with Kudsi, have gained distinguished musical scholarships to continue their violin studies.

In line with its mandate, the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has launched a number of influential cultural initiatives. These include: Muhammad the Messenger Museum, the first project of its kind in the world to highlight the life of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him); the Khor Dubai project that seeks to create a world-class cultural infrastructure at the heart of Dubai; a living museum stretching across the shores of the Dubai Creek; the Gulf Film Festival, an annual non-profit cultural event that aims to celebrate the best in Gulf cinema; and The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre, an annual initiative that seeks to celebrate and foster the art of theatre in the UAE.