The Jerusalem Children’s Orchestra

Founded by the ESNCM in 2005 with the aim of providing students with the experience of playing in an orchestra early in their musical education, the Jerusalem Orchestra is the ESNCM's junior orchestra. Under the supervision of ESNCM tutors and guest staff from the ESNCM international partner institutions, string students meet weekly at their ESNCM branch and come together for one day workshops and for twice-yearly residential workshops at the Birzeit Activities Centre. Residential camps are usually held during school holidays in January and June, and are followed by a short concert tour. The string students sometimes team up with the ESNCM wind band to form a full orchestra.

Past conductors have included Øystein Bru Frantzen, Heba de Champeaux, Shenya Abe, Gennady Kozhevnikov, Iyad Mohammed, Juan David Molano and David Galvez Pintado, and the orchestra performs a mix of simple classical and baroque repertoire, music adapted for junior orchestras, and special arrangements of Arabic music made by ESNCM teachers. The residential programmes and concert tours are an excellent opportunity for beginner students to make new friends, develop their skills as young musicians, and see how their instrument can fit into a bigger musical picture alongside the other instruments of the orchestra. Before joining the orchestra students should normally have reached grade 3-5 standard on an orchestral instrument. Entry is by recommendation of the student's teacher. Parents and teachers of students interested in participating in the orchestra, should contact the branch administrator at their local branch of the ESNCM.

As members of the Jerusalem Children’s Orchestra progress, students may eventually join the ESNCM Orchestra and ultimately be able to audition for The Palestine Youth Orchestra.

Recent Concerts of the Jerusalem Orchestra

7th January 2011
The ESNCM Activities Centre, Birzeit Conductor: Juan David Molano (Geneva Conservatoire)

8th January 2011
Zafer Masri Concert Hall, Nablus Conductor: Juan David Molano (Geneva Conservatoire)

9th January 2011
The Palestinian Academy for Security Sciences, Jericho Conductor: Juan David Molano

1st July 2011
The ESNCM Activities Centre, Birzeit Conductor: David Galvez Pintado

All enquiries related to the Jerusalem Children’s Orchestra should be directed to Tim Pottier: timpottier@googlemail.com