Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra
Concert
On the occasion of COP 28 in the UAE
Abu Dhabi Festival, together with the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra, brings to life Vivaldi’s masterpiece, The Four Seasons, for the occasion of COP 28. This wonderful concert offers gems of baroque music, and showcases the composer’s extraordinary ability to illustrate moods as diverse and contrary as violent winds, birdsong, fox hunts, harvest celebration, and joy.
The evening also features one of the most beautiful pieces composed for violin and viola, Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante. It takes the audience on a journey to the heights of musical magnificence. The stunning piece celebrates the virtuosity of the violin in all its forms, with the young Mariam Abouzahra on violin, and Amira Abouzahra on viola, conducted by Riad Kudsi and Jakub Waldmann.
Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra
Presented by Abu Dhabi Festival
Venue: Mohammed Bin Rashid Library Auditorium
Date: November 27th 2023 – Time: 8:00 PM
PROGRAMME
Vivaldi, Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, “Spring” (La primavera)
1 – Allegro (in E major)
2 – Largo (in C♯ minor)
3 – Allegro pastorale (in E major)
Solo Violin: Mariam Abouzahra
Conductor: Riad Kudsi
Vivaldi, Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, “Summer” (L’estate)
1 – Allegro non molto (in G minor)
2 – Adagio e piano – Presto e forte (in G minor)
3 – Presto (in G minor)
Solo Violin: Mariam Abouzahra
Conductor: Riad Kudsi
Vivaldi, Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, “Autumn” (L’autunno)
1 – Allegro (in F major)
2 – Adagio molto (in D minor)
3 – Allegro (in F major)
Solo Viola: Amira Abouzahra
Conductor: Jakub Waldmann
Vivaldi, Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, “Winter” (L’inverno)
1 – Allegro non molto (in F minor)
2 – Largo (in E♭ major)
3 – Allegro (in F minor)
Solo Viola: Amira Abouzahra
Conductor: Jakub Waldmann
– Interval –
A. Mozart, Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola & Orchestra in E Flat Major, K. 364
1 – Allegro maestoso
2 – Andante
3 – Presto
Solo Violin: Mariam Abouzahra
Solo Viola: Amira Abouzahra
Conductor: Riad Kudsi
PERFORMERS
Mariam Abouzahra, Violin
Amira Abouzahra, Viola
Riad Kudsi, Conductor
Jakub Waldmann, Conductor
Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra
A Czech National of Syrian origin, Mr. Kudsi began learning violin from his father at the age of seven then he joined the National Conservatory of Aleppo in Syria to become one of its most promising violinists; thus nominated for a full scholarship to continue his music studies at the Prague Conservatory, for which he gave up his studies in civil engineering.
Mr. Kudsi studied at the National Conservatory in Prague from 1970 to 1974 and continued his studies at the Higher Academy of Music, where he received Masters of Art degree in 1979 with distinction, specializing in Violin.
Since graduation, Mr. Kudsi performed violin recitals, taped solos in Radio France culture, Prague and Damascus Radios and TVs. , played as a soloist in different International Orchestras in a number of European and Arab capitals ; and pursued a music teaching career in the Czech Republic, France, Syria and finally in the UAE.
In Damascus, he formed the Syrian Piano Trio, the Syrian Chamber Orchestra and produced many musical programs for Syrian Radio and Television.
Since moving to the UAE in 1986, Mr. Kudsi has been contributing towards the development of the musical culture through teaching, practical training for his established Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra (EYSO) in 1993, and organizing cultural and charitable concerts and classical music festivals.
In 1994 he established Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra>
In 2004, he initiated the Emirates International Peace Music Festival and Competition for Young Virtuosos.
In 2004 established The Dubai National Conservatory Media City; accredited and certified by the Premier Music College of Prague one of the renowned music school in Europe.
In 2007, the National Conservatory and the Emirates Symphony Youth Orchestra received recognition and a joint cooperation agreement with Premier Music College of Prague.
2011 Supervisor of Musical Curriculum and Visiting Leader at Premier Music College of Prague.
Mr. Kudsi received many local and international appreciation certificates and awards, including:
- Awarded the “Gratis Agit Award Laureates” from the Foreign Ministry of the Czech Republic in appreciation of supporting Charity and Peace through Classical music.
- Awarded TECOM Chairman’s award by Dubai Media City in recognition of his valuable contribution to promoting UAE music culture
- Euro Disney Paris Award in 2000
- Young Music Festival Award from the Czech municipality of Karlovy Vary in 2002
Mariam was born into an artistic family in 2008. She has started to play the violin at the age of three. Her teachers were Alexander Gawrilenko and Gábor Homoki.
Since the age of ten she has been studying in Prof. Dora Schwarzberg’s violin class for highly talented children at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.
She made her orchestra debut in Germany at the age of six playing the Violin Concerto in G major by E. Beriot. As a soloist, she has appeared since then with orchestras such as Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Concerto Budapest, F. Liszt Chamber Orchestra, and many others.
Mariam has appeared at numerous venues worldwide, such as Lincoln Center New York, Covent Garden London, Royal Opera House Muscat, Cairo Opera House, Europe Palace Strasbourg, and others.
Concert engagements brought her to England, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, China, Egypt, Oman, USA.
Mariam was awarded many prizes since 2016 to 2021 in which she was awarded the absolute 1. Prize in the Soloist category of the L. Spezzaferri International Music
Competition as well as the 1. Prize Winner with Judges’ Best Performance Award of the Vienna Virtuoso Competition 2021 and the Silver Prize in the 21st International Television Contest for Young Musicians “Nutcracker” in Moscow.
She has participated in master classes with scholarship and she was a scholar of the Domhof Foundation and is a member artist of Yehudi Menuhin’s Live Music Now. She also has been invited to perform in numerous festivals and was chosen as a soloist to perform a series of concerts in Tibor Varga 100st Anniversary concert tour. Together with her sister Amira, Mariam recorded all works for 2 violins by Hungarian composer Sándor Szokolay for his Foundation.
Amira was born into an artistic family in 2005. She started to play the violin at the age of four, by then her teachers were Alexander Gawrilenko and Gábor Homoki. Since 2019 she has been a student in the violin class for gifted children of Prof. Dora Schwarzberg at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.
She made her orchestra debut at the age of seven playing Vivaldi’s Violin concerto “Spring” with the Mexico State Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist, Amira has since performed with some of the biggest orchestras such as Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Concerto Budapest, Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, ORF RadioSymphonieorchester, Kremerata Baltica and many others.
In 2017, she gave her debut at the Berliner Philharmonie with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. In 2019 Plácido Domingo invited her to perform under his baton at the Aarhus Concert House in Denmark. This was followed by many concerts at some of the biggest opera houses and music centers as well as numerous festivals around the world such as, Lincoln Center New York, Philharmonie Berlin, Cairo Opera House, Covent Garden London, Royal Opera House Muscat and many others.
Concert engagements brought her to England, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Ukraine, China, Singapore, Mexico, USA and others
Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra (EYSO) is a unique group of young musicians in the UAE and the Arab world at large, devoted to cultivating the musical talent of youngsters, by creating a cultural and artistic environment for young talents, for young & adult audiences.
EYSO was the first of its kind in the UAE, established in 1994, made up of only 12 of his students. By 1998, membership increased to nearly 50 musicians of more than 30 nationalities living in UAE who played a major role in the development of the musical culture in Dubai through many of the concerts performed. – Since 2000, the Orchestra has been invited to perform at International Youth Music Festivals and events, proudly representing the UAE Classical Music scene. – Through the years, more than 500 violinists have joined the EYSO and the National Conservatory under the tutorage of Mr. Kudsi. Several members continued their higher musical education in advanced music universities abroad and have become world-renowned musicians.
EYSO celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2019 and determined to continue its effort to move forward and broaden its horizons of high level performance and music education in the U.A.E..
