On Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd February the ESNCM welcomed the internationally renowned Sabîl ensemble to the stages of Jerusalem and Ramallah, as part of the band’s tour which included the Netherlands and Belgium, the Palestinian cities of Haifa, Nazareth and Shefamr, and the occupied Golan Heights.

Sabîl was formed by two Palestinian musicians -  Ahmad Al Khatib (oud) and Youssef Hbeisch (percussion) – and the pair continue to perform as a duo.  However this tour saw an expanded Sabîl ensemble, with Hubert Dupont on bass and Lena Nowak on clarinet. The program was taken from the group’s recent album “Zabad” (Twilight Tide).

Ahmad and Youssef began their musical collaboration in the late 1990s, when they were both living in Palestine and teaching at the ESNCM. Although nowadays living abroad, the pair have retained strong ties with Palestine and with the ESNCM, and are regular visitors for concerts, workshops and summer courses.