Plan to form Abu Dhabi School Orchestra in the next year

ABU DHABI // Educators hope to form the first emirate-wide school orchestra within the next year, officials announced at a concert on Monday night.

The Abu Dhabi School Orchestra would comprise of pupils from around the emirate, mostly from cycles two and three, who would audition for membership.

“Our aim here is to have a full orchestra playing a full concert here within the year,” said John Dennehy, head of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) Office of Planning and Strategic Affairs, who is organising the project.

Adec announced the new orchestra at a concert with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, which will provide support and represents increased cooperation between Ireland and Abu Dhabi, said Patrick Hennessy, the Irish ambassador to the UAE, who attended the concert.

“This is an example of the partnership we are developing with our friends in the UAE,” Mr Hennessy said. “The great work that these young people are doing is an example to us all.”

A choir of pupils from Abu Dhabi schools joined musicians from the Irish youth orchestra to perform a series of pieces that explored Irish, Arabic and classical music.

Gearoid Grant, conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, said he travelled to Abu Dhabi to find songs that the children knew and to understand the local music and culture. He then arranged pieces for the orchestra to perform with the Abu Dhabi pupils.

The musical selections ranged from a traditional Arabian Gulf fisherman’s dance to Irish folk music to Beethoven and Mozart.

He said the Emirati and Irish pupils learnt from working and playing together, and he wanted them to learn that music can transcend language.

“I hope that they got the message of the enjoyment music can bring,” said Mr Grant.

The concert showcased traditional Arab and Irish instruments. A trio of oud players from Bait Al Oud led the orchestra for Mozart’s Rondo Alla Turca, and a contemporary Irish folk arrangement featured a player of the Irish uilleann pipes.

Young singers, flautists and string players from Aldar Academy Mushrif and Al Bateen Schools joined the orchestra to perform Danny Boy to commemorate Ireland’s St Patrick’s Day.

“It inspired them, I think,” said Rebecca Octave, music teacher at the Mushrif school.

She said when the orchestra joined her pupils, “it was a lovely sea of sound”.

Maura Grant, committee member of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, said the youngsters learnt new rhythms, new styles and about new instruments, showing how music can unite people across cultures and traditions.

“Nowhere has this been more obvious that the experience of these young people over the past few days,” she said.

“They’ve had the most remarkable, life-enhancing experiences.”

The next steps for the Abu Dhabi School Orchestra are appointing a board of directors and a musical director, holding auditions and training workshops and introducing musical activities to Adec schools.

Pupils from Abdul Jaleel Al Fahim, Abdullah bin Otaiba, Al Mostaqbal, Al Reem, Al Suqoor, Hammodah bin Ali and Mubarak bin Mohammed schools performed, as well as from Aldar Academies.

The Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, McGettigan’s Irish restaurant and Bonnington Jumeirah Lakes Towers sponsored the event.

lcarroll@thenational.ae