The Palestine Youth Orchestra

The Palestine Youth Orchestra (PYO) was created in 2004 by the ESNCM with the vision of bringing together young Palestinian musicians from around the world. The orchestra can rightly claim today that it is a quality national youth orchestra on a par with similar ensembles worldwide. Over the past ten years it has performed in Palestine, Germany, France, Jordan, Syria, Bahrain, Lebanon, Greece and Italy. The PYO comprises around eighty young musicians of Palestinian origin residing around the world. 
 
PYO musicians meet annually for a one-week residential course followed by a concert tour. From year to year, a different country is chosen for the residential course and the orchestra invites, alongside the young musicians of Palestinian origin, 10 to 15 young guest musicians from music institutions or youth orchestras of the hosting country. Students are coached by musicians who perform and teach with leading ensembles and music conservatoires. Recent guest tutors have come from the likes of English National Opera, Valencia Opera House, Qatar Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra. Since 2012 the ESNCM has developed a partnership with the Oslo Philharmonic which entails having members of the prestigious Norwegian orchestra as coaches for the sections of the Palestine Youth Orchestra.
 
Conductors who have directed the PYO include Sian Edwards, Tom Hammond, and Nicolas Simon. Among the distinguished soloists that have performed with the PYO are Marcel Khalife, Dima Bawab, Ahmad Al Khatib, Reem Talhami, Rim Banna, Alexander Suleiman, and Saleem Abboud Ashkar. The orchestra is dedicated to promoting the work of Palestinian and Arab composers, alongside well-known standards of the Western symphonic repertoire. Recent concerts have showcased music by Marcel Khalife, Salvador Arnita, Kinan Azmeh, Naji Hakim, and the Rahbani Brothers.
 
The PYO is always keen to hear from young Palestinian musicians residing around the world. Applicants should be of Palestinian origin, between 13 – 26 years of age, and be able to perform to at least grade 7 (ABRSM), on an orchestral instrument. Auditions are usually held in February/March. To join the orchestra, an online application must be completed. All expenses related to the orchestra members’ participation in the PYO (tutoring, travel, accommodation, meals) are covered by the ESNCM, with the exception of a registration fee. Scholarships are available for students who are unable to pay the fee. 
 
All enquiries regarding musical repertoire, performances, collaborations and exchanges with other musical institutions, or participation in the PYO either as a student or instructor, should be directed to Ms. Zeina Khoury- Orchestra Manager: zkhoury@ncm.birzeit.edu, +972 (0)2—2819156.

Concerts

European Tour 2019

Kirkelandet Kirke, Kristiansund, Norway
04/08/2019
Vår Frue Kirke, Trondheim, Norway
05/08/2019
University Aula, Oslo, Norway
07/08/2019
Lundby Nya Kyrka, Gothenburg, Sweden
08/08/2019
TIVOLI CONCERT HALL, Copenhagen, Denmark
10/08/2019
MUSIKHUSET, Aarhus, Denmark
11/08/2019
BLIXENS BUILDING, Aarhus, Denmark
12/08/2019
Hochschule für Künste Bremen, Germany
13/08/2019
AMSTERDAM MUSEUM , the Netherlands
14/08/2019
THEATER ORPHEUS (with NJON), Apeldoorn, the Netherlands
15/08/2019
HET CONCERTGEBOUW, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
16/08/2019

Jordan / Palestine 2017

Saint Joseph Cultural Center, Amman
09/08/2017
Naseeb Azeez Shaheen Auditorium, Birzeit
12/08/2017
An-Najah University, Nablus
14/08/2017
Conductor: Vincent de Kort
Soloists: Nai Barghouti
John Williams

Star Wars Suite

Maurice Ravel

Bolero

Sergei Prokofiev

Romeo and Juliet Suite

Arturo Marquez

Danzon no.2

Rahbani Brothers

Ruddani ila Biladi

Rahbani Brothers

Ahtarif al-Huzna wal-Intithar

Rahbani Brothers

Zahret al-Mada'en

Suhail Khoury

To Ahmad

الأردن وفلسطين 2017

Saint Joseph Cultural Center, Amman
09/08/2017
Naseeb Azeez Shaheen Auditorium, Birzeit
12/08/2017
An-Najah University, Nablus
14/08/2017
Conductor: Vincent de Kort
Soloists: Nai Barghouti
John Williams

Star Wars Suite

Maurice Ravel

Bolero

Sergei Prokofiev

Romeo and Juliet Suite

Arturo Marquez

Danzon no.2

Rahbani Brothers

Ruddani ila Biladi

Rahbani Brothers

Ahtarif al-Huzna wal-Intithar

Rahbani Brothers

Zahret al-Mada'en

Suhail Khoury

To Ahmad

2016 Tour of Britain

Perth Concert Hall
25/07/2016
Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
26/07/2016
Leeds Town Hall
27/07/2016
Town Hall, Birmingham
29/07/2016
St. David's Hall, Cardiff
30/07/2016
Royal Festival Hall, London
01/08/2016
Conductor: Sian Edwards
Soloists: Nai Barghouti, voice
Beethoven

Leonore Overture no.3

Graham Fitkin

Metal

Zakaria Ahmad

Bi Ridhak ya Khaliqi

Rahbani Brothers

Ahtarifu al Huzna wal Intithar

Rahbani Brothers

Ruddani ila Biladi

Mussorgsky (orch. Ravel)

Pictures at an Exhibition