Music students and programs have seen their budgets slashed and even cut around the United States in recent years; but in many countries around the world, music is a big part of their children’s lives.
In August, Carnegie Hall will be the sight of a historic moment in music when five different youth orchestra groups will be performing.
In 2021 the Afghanistan National Institute of Music was shut down when the Taliban was returned to power. But some 250 of the Institute’s students and teachers escaped to Portugal where the rebuilt the Music School.
On August 7 the Afghan Youth Orchestra will be among the five your orchestras that will be performing at Carnegie Hall as a part of World Orchestra Week to close out a week of young musical talent.
The National Children’s Symphony of Venezuela performs on August 2.
The Africa United You Orchestra will perform on August 3 with the Beijing Youth Orchestra playing on August 4 and the European Union Youth Orchestra on August 6.
The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America performs on August 5 with its sister orchestra NYO2 kicking off the week of music on August 1. Polyphony – the educational program in Nazareth that brings Arab and Jewish youth musicians together will be performing with the American National Youth Orchestra.
Each performance will be a mix of the musical masters and traditional music of the home country using traditional instruments.
World Orchestra Week is the creation of the executive and artistic director for Carnegie Hall Clive Gillinson and has been years in the making.
Along with the concerts the young musicians will be participating in some cultural exchange activities and get a chance to explore New York City.