Kuwaiti-British Orchestra
In Autumn 2024, I worked with Scene Makers and the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry to organise two events under the banner of the Kuwaiti-British Orchestra. The first took place in London’s West End in September 2024 and the second was a performance at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre in Kuwait.
In Harmony: November 2024, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre, Kuwait.
On Saturday 30 November, the Kuwaiti-British Orchestra performed in the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre in Kuwait. I was the UK manager for the project, bringing forty musicians from the UK to join Kuwaiti musicians in concert. The programme featured six traditional Kuwaiti works and six works inspired by popular western media. In attendance at the event included the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister and the UK Ambassador to Kuwait.
It was a fantastic experience to perform in Kuwait and to perform under the banner of Dr Khaleed Noori. Huge thanks to the Scene Makers team - Reham Alsamerai, Ahmad Alsalhi, Mohamed Elsaieed, Yousif Yaseen and Maryam Shehab for all of their support. I hope that we can bring the Kuwaiti-British Orchestra back to Kuwait again soon.
Rhythms From Kuwait: September 2024, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
On Tuesday 03 September, I performed at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London’s West End for the ‘Rhythms in Kuwait show’.
This show celebrated 125 years of diplomatic ties between Britain and Kuwait. Over twenty musicians from Kuwait flew over to join us, alongside over fifteen singers and eight dancers. It was an incredible event that also saw musicians from Britain join in, to celebrate the collaboration between the two countries. I was asked to fix six wind and brass instrumentalists, and I’m very glad to thank Ellen Wilkinson (oboe), Jai Patel (trombone), David Alymer (French horn), Sue Letts (clarinet) and Cameron Johnson (trumpet) for joining me in this performance.
Huge thanks to conductor Khaled Noori and the Scene Maker’s team, led by Reham Alsamerai and Ahmad Alsalhi for the experience. I’m looking forward to working with the team soon!
