The ESNCM Orchestra

The ESNCM Orchestra is comprised of ESNCM students, teachers and friends of the ESNCM, all living locally in Palestine. It is the only Palestinian large-scale classical music orchestra in Palestine, with all performers living locally. The orchestra gave its first performance at the Friends’ Boys School, Ramallah, in May 2004. From its humble origins, the orchestra has developed into a seventy - member ensemble, and has developed a reputation for giving fresh programmes of orchestral music to local audiences, whilst providing educational insight for audiences into the instruments, colours, sounds and language of the orchestra. In 2011, the ESNCM announced the appointment of Colombian pianist and conductor Juan David Molano as the orchestra's Principal Conductor, in partnership with the Geneva Conservatoire, and Fondation les Instruments de la Paix (Switzerland). Their popular concerts take place in a relaxed atmosphere with much of the music being introduced from the podium by the conductor. Participating in the Orchestra provides a brilliant training experience for young Palestinian musicians, and possibilities for concerto performances by ESNCM students and teachers.

The orchestra’s programmes include arrangements of traditional Arabic music, alongside music by Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Brahms, Dvořàk, Fauré, Grieg, Bizet, Shostakovich, Johann Strauss II, Bartòk, Tchaikovsky, Paganini, The Beatles, Rahbani Brothers, Chaminade, Nino Rota and Sibelius. Highlights have included an international television broadcast by the Italian broadcaster RAI, from the annual Nativity Church concert in Bethlehem, a performance of the Requiem mass by Gabriel Fauré in collaboration with the Jerusalem Choir, events staged by Unicef and UNDP, the first orchestral concert in Hebron, during the Jasmine Spring Festival, and a concert performance in Dubai. Highlights of the coming year include a concert performance of Georges Bizet's popular opera 'Carmen', with the Choeur St-Michel of Fribourg (Switzerland), performed in three Palestinian cities.

Members of the ESNCM Orchestra are primarily advanced students and teachers from the ESNCM branches, joined by a few friends of the orchestra who include students at other music institutions and amateur musicians living and working locally. To be eligible for participation, students must normally have reached at least grade 6 standard on an orchestral instrument. From 2013, the orchestra will start a concerto competition, offering students the chance to audition for a solo performance with the orchestra in the next academic year.

FUTURE CONCERTS

13th and 14th April 2013 *Venues to be confirmed
Concert performances of music from Bizet’s opera Carmen. Conductor: Juan David Molano, Soloists from Palestine and Switzerland, the Choeur St-Michel (Fribourg, Switzerland), and members of the Palestinian choirs.

RECENT CONCERTS

21st October 2012 The Cultural Palace, Ramallah
Music for concert and film: Mozart, Chaminade, Bartòk, Brahms, Nino Rota and Bizet. Conductor: Juan David Molano, Soloists: Nai Barghouti (flute), Lourdina Baboun (violin)
 
20th December 2011 Nativity Church, Bethlehem (Broadcast Internationally by RAI)
Music by: Beethoven, Paganini, Mozart, Bizet and Tchaikovsky, alongside popular and traditional songs from Palestine, Italy and England. Conductor: Juan David Molano, Soloists: Fadi Deeb (Piano), Sana Mousa (Voice), Enrico Nadai (voice), Laura Marzadori (Violin), Petra Magoni (Voice)
 
9th October 2011 The Latin Church, Ramallah
Music by: Shostakovich, Torelli, Mozart, Faure, Dvorak, Johann Strauss II and Birzet  Conductor: Juan David Molano, Soloists: Nai Barghouti (flute), Michael Flynn (trumpet)
 
14th April 2011 East Jerusalem YMCA, Jerusalem
15th April 2011 The Lutheran Church, Ramallah
16th April 2011 The New Theatre, Children's Centre, Hebron
Music by: Mozart, Sibelius and Dvorak Conductor: Juan David Molano, Soloist: Sasha Khoury (Piano)