DOHA, Qatar, May 14, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development announced yesterday, in a press conference at its headquarters, the premiere of the "Qatar Symphony" on June 1st and 2nd at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Doha.
A philharmonic orchestra of more than 80 musicians will perform the symphony which is considered to be the first symphonic composition written to tell the story of the challenges and achievements of the state of Qatar. A multimedia show of selected images and videos will accompany the musical show for almost an hour to complete this unique artistic evening.
The symphony is the first step in an ongoing effort by Qatar Foundation to celebrate music as one of the most important arts, and as a universal language of all civilizations. The symphony is also a step to introduce classical music to the Qatari society.
Qatar Foundation is one of the major organizations active in the fields of education and community development in Qatar and it is a model in the region. This initiative is guided by the belief of Qatar Foundation that community development is a comprehensive and diversified process and that music forms a major pillar in the development of any community.
Initiating the process, Qatar Foundation commissioned Dr. Salem Abdul Karem, a renowned musician and composer, to compose an orchestral musical piece inspired by the Qatari folkloric music, reflecting the overall growth and progress of the state. During work, the composer has met several musicians and artists from Qatar such as Mr. Abdul Aziz Nasser, Mr. Mattar Al Kuwari, Mr. Mohamad Al Marzooqi and Mr. Ali Abdul Satar as artistic advisors in order to maintain the authenticity and the essence of the heritage in the melody. The result of this determination and hard work was the first symphonic musical piece in Qatar to treat the folkloric melodies in an international orchestral form.
The orchestra will be performing the symphony over two evenings on the 1st and 2nd of June at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, where the tennis court venue will be transformed to accommodate state of the art audiovisual equipment, and will cater to the needs and requirements of the elite musicians who will come from eastern Europe and Russia for this unique event.
The symphony is built on the classical symphony form of four movements with the use of Qatari folkloric melodies in different parts of the symphony as symbols within the context.
The symphony is sponsored by Qatar Petroleum as the platinum sponsor, Qatar Fuel Company (Woqod) as the golden sponsor and Qatar Navigation Company as the bronze sponsor. This support is a result of the trust by the Qatari companies in Qatar Foundation and its vital role in community development.
About Qatar Foundation
Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development is a private, chartered, nonprofit organization, founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, and chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned. The Foundation is guided by the principle that a nation's greatest resource is the potential of its people, and aims to develop that potential through a network of centers devoted to progressive education, research and community welfare.
Qatar Foundation is headquartered in a unique Education City in Doha, Qatar, which hosts branch campuses of some of the world's leading research universities, including Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and Georgetown University in Qatar. It is also home to Qatar Academy, the Learning Center, the Academic Bridge Program, the RAND-Qatar Policy Institute, Al Shaqab Stud and Riding Academy, Fitch Qatar and Qatar Science and Technology Park. Future projects include a state-of-the-art conference and cultural center and Sidra's 400-bed, all-digital academic medical center.
Qatar Foundation's other projects include the Qatar Diabetes Association and the Social Development Center.
Through its projects and its partnerships with elite institutions, Qatar Foundation hopes to transform Qatar into a knowledge-based society. Qatar Foundation's mission is to prepare the people of Qatar and the region to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world by providing world-class educational opportunities, to improve quality of life and to make Qatar a leader in innovative education and research.
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