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Abu Dhabi /Â WAM
Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) has participated in the second meeting of a major study regarding the direction and development of Western classical music as it enters the 21st century.
Initiated in 2015 by the Global Institute for Advanced Study (GIAS) at New York University, the research project, ‘The Future of Classical Music’, is a three-year study which will culminate in the publication of a major report in 2018.
Held in Florence, Italy, the meeting’s two-day programme generated discussions on major issues affecting the direction and development of classical music, such as the impact of the digital universe, the changing demographics of listeners, music education and the influence of economic factors on production, performance and appreciation.
ADMAF founder, Hoda Al Khamis-Kanoo, the working group’s sole representative from the Arab world, gave a lecture on, ‘The Current State of Play: UAE and Middle East’. She outlined the development of classical music performance and practice in the countries of the Levant, North Africa and Arabian Gulf from the early 20th century to the present day.
She said, “Our histories are united through music. The universality of classical music should not be taken for granted. It is not just a well-meaning ‘line’. It is a rare treasure to be nurtured, respected and shared. This belief is at the heart of ADMAF, which creates meaningful experiences and memorable encounters that allow each and every person to take the next step on their individual, classical music journeys.”