9/26/13 5:54 PMQueen's Master of Music takes up baton with National Youth Orchestra of Iraq - Telegraph

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Queen's Master of Music takes up baton with National Youth Orchestra of Iraq

The Queen's Master of Music, who lives nearly 3,000 miles from Baghdad, has become thefirst composer "in residence" of the newly-formed National Youth Orchestra of Iraq.

Sir Peter, 74, said he would travel to Iraq next year to teach and meet the orchestra, which is seeking £100,000 to help itdevelop Photo: STEPHEN LOCK

By Auslan Cramb

7:14PM GMT 21 Dec 2008

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies plans to write an overture for the orchestra and visit Iraq for the first timenext year to teach.

Members of the orchestra are said to risk death just by playing Western classical instruments, and willaudition and receive lessons over the internet due to the security risks.

Its musical director is the Aberdeen-born conductor Paul MacAlindin and was developed by the 17-year-old pianist Zuhal Sultan who lives in Baghdad, where music shops have been attacked by Islamicfundamentalists.

She is also a member of the senior Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra whose members have beenthreatened with kidnap.

Because of the security risks the youth orchestra, with musicians ranging in age from 14 to 25, willmeet outside Baghdad.

9/26/13 5:54 PMQueen's Master of Music takes up baton with National Youth Orchestra of Iraq - Telegraph

Page 2 of 2http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3885348/Queens-Master-of-Music-takes-up-baton-with-National-Youth-Orchestra-of-Iraq.html

Mr MacAlindin, who is based in Cologne, said: "We will be inviting applications from all over Iraq.One of the biggest problems is finding teachers in Iraq. Those that were there have either left or havebeen killed. Instruments are also hard to come by. It is a miracle this is happening at all.

"But the internet lessons should be set-up by the end of January and we hope to have a summerschool. Lessons will be in English, Kurdish and Arabic, reflecting the diversity of the players.

"The auditions will be by video, though there's always the unreliability of the technology and thepower cuts to contend with."

Sir Peter, 74, said he would travel to Iraq next year to teach and meet the orchestra, which is seeking£100,000 to help it develop.

"I was outraged over the invasion of Iraq," he said. "But music has a part to play in its healing.

"I think this youth orchestra is one of the most remarkable things I have ever heard of and I am proudto be its composer in residence, even though I am a long way from being in residence in Iraq.

"Out of the destruction and killing of Iraq has come the joy and love of the universal power of music.It is quite moving."

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