The 8th Emirates International Peace Music Festival began in style this evening with the first performance of its five-date tour of the Emirates. Presented by the Abu Dhabi Festival for the third consecutive year, in 2012 the Emirates International Peace Music Festival brings together an elite group of international child virtuosos from the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Premiere Music College of Prague Youth Symphony Orchestra. They are joined by musical prodigies from Korea.

The tour, which kicked off at the Abu Dhabi Theatre, will visit two locations in Dubai before travelling to Fujairah and wrapping up in Sharjah on Thursday, 5th April. The tour will provide these aspiring young musicians with an opportunity to perform and showcase their budding talents, as well as the opportunity to learn from each other. Held as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival’s buoyant Community Programme, the tour will provide communities across the UAE the opportunity to engage with classical music and plant the seeds for the continued growth of the genre in the UAE.

Her Excellency Mrs. Hoda I Al Khamis Kanoo, Founder and Artistic Director of the Abu Dhabi Festival said: “The Abu Dhabi Festival is proud to partner with the Emirates International Peace Music Festival. This is wonderful platform that enables young musicians from across the UAE the opportunity to come together to showcase their talents. We hope that this tour proves inspiring and educational for all participants and encourages the cross pollination of ideas and influences between UAE-based performers and our international guests that will connect our cultures.”

The Emirates International Peace Music Festival was founded in 2004 by musician Riad Kudsi. Arriving in the UAE in 1986, his teaching of the violin led him to establish the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra in 1993. Speaking about the thinking behind the tour this year Riad Kudsi explained: “We always look forward to the Abu Dhabi Festival but this year has been very special, the quality of talent and the sheer enthusiasm has been inspiring, my confidence in the musical legacy of the next generation has been hugely reinforced by these performances.”

The 8th Emirates International Peace Music Festival will perform at the American School of Dubai on Monday, 2nd April, Knowledge Village Theatre, Dubai on Tuesday, 3rd April, before travelling to Fujariah on Wednesday 4th April at the Culture Centre, Ministry of Youth and Sharjah on Thursday, 5th April at Sharjah University. All performances commence at 8pm and admission is free.

For further information and details of the full Abu Dhabi Festival programme, ‘like’ us on Facebook and ‘follow’ us on Twitter or visit www.abudhabifestival.ae

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