The National Youth Orchestra – Lebanon, affiliated with the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music, the "Conservatoire," made a remarkable appearance at the fourth edition of the “World Youth Orchestra Festival” in Russia. This marked the orchestra’s second participation in the international event, showcasing the capabilities of young Lebanese musicians and their ability to compete on global stages.
The Lebanese musicians took part in activities held in Moscow and Sochi under the direction and leadership of renowned maestro Yuri Bashmet, alongside young musicians from various countries. The experience brought together different musical schools and cultures within a single orchestra.
الأوركسترا الوطنية للشباب ترفع اسم لبنان على مسارح روسيا pic.twitter.com/eysvHQHLNn
The participation follows the step taken by the National Higher Conservatory of Music last year to establish the youth orchestra and musical ensembles and integrate them into academic curricula. This enabled students to undergo intensive training and specialized “master classes” with international musicians, under the direct artistic supervision of Maestro Kareem Saeed.
The orchestra had previously made international stops in Russia and Italy last year, returning to Russia this year as part of a path aimed at providing young Lebanese musicians with practical experience on international stages.
The Lebanese delegation included Gaelle Imad, Joy Saad, Marina Siraj Bashi, Giorgio Bou Chaaya, Andrea Demirjian, and Chris Farah, along with an official delegation from the Lebanese National Conservatory.
The delegation spent ten days in Russia, divided between Moscow and Sochi, during which the musicians underwent daily intensive training and preparations under the supervision of Maestro Yuri Bashmet, with the participation of Maestro Anatoliy Semyonov, who conducted the two concerts.
The Lebanese youth participated alongside musicians from a wide range of countries, including Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Vietnam, Georgia, Egypt, Iran, Spain, Kazakhstan, China, Korea, Malaysia, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Chile, and South Africa.
The first concert was held in the capital, Moscow, at the Zaryadye Theater, where the musicians presented a musical program that combined the traditions of different classical schools, amid audience interaction.
The second concert was held at the “Sirius Concert Center” in Sochi, where the Lebanese musicians participated in performances that required advanced levels of technical skill and orchestral harmony.
The program included a collection of international musical works, most notably Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, Ferdinand David’s “Concertino” for Bassoon, Weber’s Bassoon Concerto and Orchestra, Bodrov’s “Guide to the Orchestra,” in addition to Ravel’s “Bolero.”
The Lebanese participation, according to its organizers, was distinguished by precision in performance, discipline, and team spirit, in an experience that allowed students to interact directly with musicians and musical schools from different parts of the world.
A delegation from the Lebanese Embassy in Moscow attended the concert, led by Lebanon’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Georges Abi Zeid, who was temporarily present in Moscow. He congratulated the students on their participation, expressing his pride in the presence of young Lebanese in an international musical gathering of this size.
The participation forms an additional milestone in the experience of the National Youth Orchestra. Playing under the leadership of a world-class maestro like Yuri Bashmet provides students with a professional and artistic experience that goes beyond the limits of academic study, opening them up to a wider range of interaction with global musical experiences, while the Conservatoire continues to bet on a new generation that carries Lebanese music to prominent international platforms.
Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter
