Consisting of a series of musical events coordinated by the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in cooperation with Bethlehem Municipality, the Bethlehem Saturdays in Music Series was part of an ongoing wider project sponsored by the John Paul II Foundation aimed at establishing a professional resident orchestra in the city of Bethlehem. The initiative has at its core the dual intention to:

 

- Provide the town of Bethlehem, its residents, and the thousands of people who visit it yearly, a varied and attractive cultural musical scene
- Create unprecedented performance opportunities for musicians residing in Palestine, in the Bethlehem area and beyond.

 

In 2014, 16 concerts took place each Saturday between the 24th of January and the 21st of May. The opening and closing concerts were both given by former ESNCM student and teacher Mohamed Najem & Friends. 

 

Alongside a calendar of weekly concerts (‘Saturdays in Music’), a selection of educational concerts (‘Discover Music’) took place in schools and cultural centers. The series offered, in the most significant venues of the city, a varied program including: Arabic Music Ensembles and Singers; Chamber Music and Jazz Ensembles; Orchestras; Wind Bands; and Choirs.