The bi-annual Palestine National Music Competition took place in Jerusalem in April, organised by the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, Palestine (ESNCM). An international panel of experts travelled to….
The bi-annual Palestine National Music Competition took place in Jerusalem in April,
organised by the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, Palestine (ESNCM).
An international panel of experts travelled to adjudicate young Palestinian musicians in a wide range of instrumental categories, and in both Western and Arabic music. Most candidates could travel to Jerusalem to perform live (including some from Gaza, a minor miracle brought about by European embassies and EU representation),
but some were not given permission and had to compete via video link from Ramallah or Gaza.
It was extraordinary to see the reactions of the jury members who had not been in Palestine before – I am a regular visitor – they had no idea how high the standards were going to be, and in many cases said that what they heard was better than what they would have expected in their own countries, including Norway, Sweden, the UK,
France, Spain, Italy and Switzerland.
Amongst the winners was a 14 year old trumpet player from Gaza, who had memorised his entire programme, and an Arabic/Jazz fusion ensemble
from Jenin, who narrowly beat a string quartet from Rammalah playing a rarely heard unfinished work by Edvard Grieg.
I think many European musicians – and sadly Israeli ones too – would be shocked to know that music is so well developed in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The musicians performed at the Yabous Cultural Centre in East Jerusalem, and
the nearby branch of ESNCM; a delightful 19th century building newly converted for bespoke use as a centre for teaching and administration, complete with a number of fine grand pianos, and sound-proofed teaching studios.
ESNCM also has exceptional new premises in Beit Sahour (Bethlehem) and a soon-to-be-opened centre in Ramallah – spaces and facilities that would be the envy of every Conservatoire in the UK. As the situation in Palestine develops in the coming years, I hope that the eyes and ears of the world will also be opened to the inspiring
development of music amongst young Palestinians. This is a musical story as well as a political one.