Yoo

Introduction

About logo:
Circle shape represents the continuous movements. The left red, yellow, and green half circle represents the Kurdistan flag. In the right side which it is the eighth notes, is representational the music. And inside the eight not is the sun, which is representing the toughness, shining light that could serve forever.

About Orchestra:
The Youth Orchestra Organization is the first youth orchestra organization to bring Kurdish youth musicians from all countries together, along with all other minorities living in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Mission

Mission

The Youth Orchestra Organization will bring together young Kurdish musicians, Arabs, and other groups in the Kurdistan region of Iraq to promote peace, tolerance, and reconciliation through music, aiming to heal our divided society. Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with musicians, composers, and tutors from around the world to learn, exchange skills, and perform, all while forging cultural friendships.

The YOO goals

The YOO goals:

Improve the musical skills, knowledge, education and discipline of young musicians.
Create an orchestra and organization that represents Kurdish and Iraqi music and culture.
Commission new works by Kurdish and young Iraqi composers and create a scheme for young composers to receive tuition.
Perform concerts inside and outside of the country to develop cultural relationships.
Make connections between Kurdish and young Iraqi musicians and ensembles around the world as well as musicians and ensembles from other cultures.
Organize masterclasses, concerts, recitals, and seminars inside and outside of the young musician institutes and centers with help from local and global employing professional musicians.
Helping young musicians to attend and participate in masterclasses, orchestras, recitals, and seminars elsewhere in the world.
Supporting the institute and college graduate students to further their studies and enable professional development.
Gender equalities throw our musical works

Who Can participate?

Context

The Iraqi Kurdistan region and Iraq as a whole suffer from a deficient musical education system. Many students begin their musical education later in life compared to those in more advanced countries, with a significant percentage starting their artistic journey at the age of 16 or 17 when they apply to Fine Arts institutes. Additionally, the ongoing conflict, sectarian strife, and political issues have led to considerable neglect of the musical education system in both the Kurdistan region and Iraq.
In response, the YOO strives to collaborate with local and international individuals and organizations to rebuild and enhance the musical education system because the Kurdistan region, one of the safest parts of Iraq, provides a peaceful environment where people of different nationalities and religions can live together harmoniously.

Who Can participate?

Young musicians of any culture and heritage who live in Kurdistan region of Iraq, Kirkuk, and Mosul between 16-29 years old.
Any Iraqi residency or passport holder between 16-29 years old.

Peace Orchestra Program

1- Peace Orchestra Program

The primary role of the organization will be its orchestra, the POP Is the first youth orchestra to bring Kurdish youth musicians, alongside Arabs and other entities living in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The orchestra will meet annually for two to three weeks in the summer. The orchestra will work as a full ensemble as well as in chamber groups formed by its members. The summer course will culminate in a full orchestral concert but in addition to this, the YOO will use innovative formats such as flash mobs/pop-up performances and programs tailored for small educational concerts in hospitals, orphanages, and care homes which will feature the YOO chamber ensembles.
In its inaugural year, the course and performances will take place in Sulaymaniyah city, the capital of art & culture of the KRG. In subsequent years, the intention would be to tour other cities and countries to experience different cultures and participate in music festivals.
In addition to the annual summer course, the organization will coordinate masterclasses and events and will provide support for young musicians in the region.
YOO plans to hold its ventures in different locations throughout the region to share its message widely and reach many people through our concerts, activities, and achievements.

Concert Program Structure:

Program to be confirmed by conductor, tutors and YOO staff after auditions and confirmation of orchestral forces available.

A symphonic masterwork.
Two commissioned works by Kurdish composers.
Some short pieces by different composers to complement the rest of the program. Long term when the KYO travels to or gets funds by another country, works will be included by a composer native to that country.
A short piece by a Kurdish young musician from young composer scheme.
A work featuring a guest soloist - Kurdish and international guest artist.

-Young Composer Scheme
The YOO will invite applications from young composers who will receive tuition from commissioned composer/s to write a short piece for and have some workshop time with, the orchestra during the course.

2-The youth Festival for traditional music & musical instruments :

TThrough this program, the YOO aims to identify talented young players proficient in traditional musical instruments, providing them with encouragement, support, and opportunities for growth. Our objective is to enhance and preserve our rich traditional music and musical instruments by fostering the development of these players. Additionally, every musical piece will be recorded, notated, and shared globally, further promoting and preserving our musical heritage.

3- Ethno Kurdistan-Iraq

Ethno is JM International's program dedicated to folk, world, and traditional music. Established in 1990, its primary objective is to rejuvenate and preserve the world's cultural heritage by engaging young musicians under the age of 30. Ethno operates in over 40 countries and offers a range of activities, including annual international music camps, workshops, concerts, and tours. Additionally, it collaborates with educational institutions such as schools and conservatories, as well as other youth organizations, to promote values of peace, tolerance, and understanding through music.
After 3 years of working, in 2023 the YOO with Svenska Vänföreningen folk music I Kurdistan to obtain the official permeation by JMI to open and operate the Ethno Kurdistan- Iraq as a collaborative project. Both YOO and SVFiK formed a staff to run the Ethno Kurdistan- Iraq program.

4-The Musical Online Database

The YOO is endeavoring to establish the first music database. This database will serve as a repository for every Kurdish music composer, writer, researcher, musicologist, and ethnomusicologist. Through this website, we aim to gather all musical compositions, books, and researches in one accessible platform. This site will become the premier resource for both musicians and non-musicians alike, locally and internationally, facilitating easy access to a wealth of musical topics and information.

5-Making Brasses and Winds Program

One of the most significant issues for the orchestras and bands in Kurdistan is not having Brass players and some wind instruments like Bassoon and Oboe. The Slemani Orchestra, for example, hires brass players from Europe whenever they make a concert, and this is a costly process. Therefore, the YOO plans to buy or find some brass instruments first and then employ a brass teacher to start teaching some young players. In the beginning, the tutor needs to teach face-to-face and then give classes online; through this process, we will make the first new brass generation.

5-The Brass & woodwind Ensemble Development Initiative program

One of the most significant challenges facing orchestras and bands in Kurdistan is the shortage of brass players and certain wind instruments like the bassoon and oboe. For example, the Slemani Orchestra often resorts to hiring brass, bassoon, and occasionally oboe players from Europe or Arab countries for their concerts, which proves to be a costly endeavor. Therefore, the YOO plans to initially acquire or locate brass instruments and then collaborate with international groups and organizations to bring a brass teacher to start instructing young players. Initially, the tutor will provide face-to-face lessons, gradually transitioning to online classes. Through this process, we aim to nurture the first generation of local brass musicians.

YOO plans to hold its ventures in different locations throughout the region for the purpose of sharing its message widely, and reaching many people through our concerts, activities, and achievements.

Staff

YOO 2022 Proposal

Timeline

The Advertising and promoting starts at October 15th
The online application process will be open from 1 November – 15 December 2021.
The YOO will send audition materials for applicants to prepare. The applicant must practice the music, record it, and submit the audition recording by 15 February 2022.
Auditions will be reviewed by a panel of professional orchestral musicians and the announcement of musicians selected for the KYO will be held by 15 April 2022
With the announcement of the orchestra roster, the concert music will be sent to the accepted players for practice.
July 2022 all musicians and staff in person will arrive to rehears and perform concert.

Participants

16 Violin, 6 Viola, 6 Cello, 4 Double Bass, 2 Flute, 2 Oboe, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, 2 French Horns, 2 Trumpets, 2 Percussion.

Conductor

Sponser

The YOO’s official birthday is January 11th 2021; therefore any sponsor’s person or organization are most welcome and will be named here.

- Dr. Hemn Barzan Abdalla
Modified Orchestra Site with Providing the'Hosting & Domain'
Tel: +8618169838290
Email: habdalla@kean.edu
Address: Kean University, Wenzhou Campus, China

Donate

Contact

Tel: +9647701586387 | +9647701591415

Address: Office No. 1 – ground floor- building No. 17. The Old cigarette Factory \ Salim Street. Sulaymaniyah Kurdistan Reegion\ Iraq

Email: youthoo.krd@gmail.com

Home

Donate

- The Youth Orchestra Organization is an NGO Organization. therefore, any support, sponsor and donation takes its place. Because of kind and generous people like you, we can all together help and support young musicians, and gives them a bright future!
Tel: +9647701586387
Email: ba_cello@yahoo.com

Contact

YOO International Advisors

Gudrun Euler

Logistical assistance from German Friends – Germany
Email: nail@gudruneuler.de

Liz Youker

Logistical assistance from Kalamazoo symphony Orchestra – USA
Email: liz.youker@gmail.com

Polly McMillan

Logistical assistance from Edinburgh Youth Orchestra, Orchestra Manager from 2006 – 2015- United Kingdom of Great Britain
Email: pollymcmillan@hotmail.co.uk

Kirsten Hunter

Logistical assistance from United Kingdom of Great Britain
Email: kirstenhunter@gmail.com

Dr. Nahro Zagros

Former Vice-President of Soran University. Kurdistan region of Iraq
Email: vp.scientific@soran.edu.iq

Sponser

Music Director

Conductor – Paul MacAlindin

Paul MacAlindin has conducted orchestras and ensembles all over the world, from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the RSNO, the SCO, Oulu Sinfonia and Armenian Philharmonic to the ensembles of the Düsseldorf Symphoniker, Psappha and Cantiere Montepulciano. He has recorded for BBC Radio 3, WDR and Radio New Zealand. His most striking role to date has been as Music Director of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq, whose story he told in UPBEAT: the Story of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq. In December 2017, he received the first-ever Global Blue Ocean Shift Award for innovative business strategy from the Prime Minister of Malaysia at the Global Entrepreneurship Community Summit in Kuala Lumpur. He now musically directs The Glasgow Barons.
Words on the YOO from Paul MacAlindin: “I am honored to have been asked to conduct the inaugural year of the Peace Orchestra Program by the Youth Orchestra Organization in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. I know the musicians and the country well, and understand the symbolic power of hope through their music making. I'm also delighted that Bashdar Ahmed Sdiq, an alumnus of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq, is its founder and organizer. His loyalty, integrity, insight, talent, and hard work will ensure the fulfillment of his vision for a peaceful and united coexistence of Kurds, Arabs, and other minorities living in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.”