The Palestine Youth Orchestra

The Palestine Youth Orchestra comes to Royal Festival Hall for the final concert of its first ever UK tour.

Being equally at home with Western and Arabic repertoire, the PYO maintains a unique position amongst youth orchestras internationally.

Following successful tours in France and Oman, they perform music by Beethoven, the pop-inspired Metal by British composer Graham Fitkin, songs by legendary Arab singers Fairuz and Um Kelthoum, and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.

The eclectic concert programme is preceded by a display of the young musicians' talents as improvisors.

The orchestra is joined by young Palestinian vocalist, flute player and composer Nai Barghouti – a rising star of Arabic music, after her recently acclaimed performances at the Montreux Festival and the UN Headquarters in New York.

Founded in 2004 by the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, with the vision of bringing together young Palestinian musicians from around the world, the PYO has since performed throughout Europe and the Middle East.

Presented by Palmusic UK, a charity funding musical activities in Palestine, Palestinian students are joined by students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.