The Palestine Youth Orchestra

The Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Palestine is proud to be the pioneer in establishing The Palestine Youth Orchestra (PYO), which is one of the most important and unique Palestinian initiatives where geographical boundaries are overcome by combining a group of young talented Palestinian musicians from Palestine and the Diaspora in an exclusive Orchestra.

As a dream for Palestinians worldwide, the ESNCM had foreseen that this Orchestra should include Palestinians from Palestine and the Diaspora who will address the whole world through the language of music, contributing toward enhancing the cultural and artistic identity of Palestine and be a source of pride for all Palestinians, aiming at placing Palestine on the world map of music.

This unique and important initiative undertaken by the ESNCM, reflects the Palestinian determination to overcome all barriers imposed by the Israeli occupation by providing the opportunity for young Palestinian musicians in any part of the world, to join the Orchestra.  The ESNCM foresees that as this Orchestra grows in size and stature it will be able to address the world with the language of music thus enhancing the cultural and artistic identity of Palestine and becoming a source of pride to Palestinians everywhere.. To achieve this goal, the ESNCM will continue training members of the Orchestra over the next five years, by holding workshops and intensive camps in the Arab World. Once this project is complete, it hopes to launch an international tour by holding a concert in the city of Jerusalem.

The PYO met for the first time in Jerash, Jordan, in August 2004 for a two-week training camp, where around 55 Palestinian youth from Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Europe were trained by Arab and foreign music teachers.  Since its establishment in 1993, the ESNCM harbored the dream of forming a Palestinian orchestra.  It was therefore a moment of great joy when Conductor Anna-Sophie Bruening led the historic performance of the PYO in Amman at the end of the camp in 2004, where musical talents combined with the willpower to succeed and to perform was reflected on the 600-member audience, who at the end of the performance, showed their enthusiasm and appreciation with a standing ovation.