Today's Edition
Mays Ibrahim (ABU DHABI)
Seventeen Emirati musicians will train with the UAE National Orchestra under “Tashyeed”, a new 13-month programme aimed at grooming local talent for professional orchestral careers.
Tashyeed combines hands-on orchestral training with academic study, giving selected participants access to rehearsals and live performance settings alongside professional orchestra members.
The programme forms the first pillar of the orchestra’s broader learning and community strategy, which will later expand to include composer development, school outreach and international collaborations.
“From the very beginning, our vision has been clear. A national orchestra does more than perform. It plays a very important role in shaping the future of music in this country,” Sheikha Alia bint Khalid Al Qassimi, Managing Director of the UAE National Orchestra, said during a press conference on Wednesday announcing the launch.
Sheikha Alia described music as “a powerful tool for learning, inclusion and human development”, adding that investing in Emirati talent is essential to building a lasting cultural legacy.
“Tashyeed is a direct expression of that commitment,” she said. “The name itself comes from the Arabic word “تشييد”, meaning to build or to elevate. It reflects exactly what this programme is designed to do, to build a strong foundation for the future of Emirati music while elevating the musicians who will shape it.”
Three-phase professional training
Dr Mahmoud Said, Learning Programmes Lead at the UAE National Orchestra, said that Tashyeed is structured across three progressive semesters: a foundation phase, an artistic development phase and a graduation project preparation phase.
Participants will receive weekly instruction combining ensemble practice, orchestral rehearsals and theoretical coursework, while undergoing regular evaluations throughout the programme.
“This programme is focused on the instrumental player, specifically instruments that sit within the UAE National Orchestra,” Dr Said said in response to a question by Aletihad.
“Our goal is to move in two parallel pathways; reaching the highest standard of performance while also preparing participants to become cultural ambassadors for UAE music locally and internationally.”
The curriculum covers areas including music theory, music appreciation, music history and Emirati and Khaleeji musical traditions, according to Dr Said.
Participants will study orchestral forms such as symphonies, concertos and sonatas, alongside Arabic and Andalusian musical heritage.
The programme also blends Arabic and Western orchestral traditions, with musicians specialising in instruments including oud, qanun, strings and percussion.
A ‘dream come true’
Among the inaugural participants is Emirati violinist and composer Jaber Al Maazmi, who described joining the programme as “a dream come true”.
Opportunities of this scale were previously lacking for local musicians, according to Al Maazmi.
“We used to imagine what it would be like if the UAE had a national orchestra or a programme like this,” he said. “Now here I am today talking about it.”
Fellow participant Nada Alaydaroos, a cellist who began playing in 2019, said the programme gives her the confidence to pursue her dream of performing in a professional orchestra.
“[This] is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me,” the aspiring musician said. “When I first saw the auditions for the UAE National Orchestra, I remember thinking that I still did not reach the level that is needed to be part of it,” Alaydaroos added. “Through Tashyeed, I now have a clear path to work towards it.”
The programme is set to culminate in a graduation concert featuring participants performing alongside the UAE National Orchestra in a fully professional orchestral setting.
