2009 Press Releases
American Musical Director Partners with Local Association to Build Youth Orchestra Across the West Bank
July 01, 2009
Jerusalem
American musician and artistic director Peter Sulski concluded a year-long U.S. Government-sponsored Cultural Envoy program in the West Bank this month. Mr. Sulski, a renowned American violinist and violist, was invited by the Ramallah-based Al Kamandjati Association to conduct a series of educational workshops throughout the year for young Palestinian musicians and to oversee the creation of a new youth orchestra.
The U.S. Department of State and U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem sponsored Mr. Sulski’s four visits to the West Bank in 2008-2009. Mr. Sulski marveled at the progress of the forty of young musicians who travelled to Ramallah from around the West Bank to work with him throughout the year. Young Palestinians from disadvantaged communities and refugee camps overcame significant obstacles in order to participate, but remained committed to the long-term goal of establishing a permanent, world-class youth orchestra. About his experiences, Mr. Sulski noted that, “music is a language that is shared by all nations of the world,” and added, “I am pleased to be working with talented Palestinian youth and I’m really impressed with their capabilities.”
At the completion of his Cultural Envoy program, the Al Kamandjati Association asked Mr. Sulski to remain in Ramallah to serve as the Musical Director of a five-day summer youth orchestra camp, which ends this week.. Ninety young musicians from throughout the West Bank will learn from Palestinian, American, and international musical instructors in the camp at Salah Khalaf Cultural Center in Al Fara. Camp participants will perform two concerts daily.
The founder and President of Al Kamandjati, Ramzi Aburedwan, will continue to expand the size and reach of the youth orchestra in the years to come. Forty Palestinian youth currently participate in the orchestra and he hopes its size will increase as his organization reaches more Palestinian children. Mr. Sulski has played a key role in helping him achieve this goal, as well as promote dialogue and mutual understanding. He said, “music is a universal language. The U.S. Government’s Cultural Envoy program allowed us to have real international exchange, something which has been missing from this Earth.”
The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem prioritizes creating opportunities for Palestinian youth to learn new skills and participate in the building of the future state of Palestine. This summer, for example, the U.S. Consulate and U.S. Government are supporting educational youth camps in Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, Hebron and Gaza in partnership with various Palestinian organizations.
For more information please contact the U.S. Consulate General’s Information Assistant Hassna Dajani at 054-678-8455.
###
