Latest news with #GalaConcert
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
5-Year-Old Piano Prodigy Makes His Debut at Carnegie Hall: 'Such an Amazing Time'
A 5-year-old piano prodigy just made his debut at Carnegie Hall. Alec Van Khajadourian of Los Angeles made his debut during the NY Classical Debut Awards Gala Concert on Sunday, July 20, according to ABC affiliate WABC-TV and NBC affiliate KNBC. He was the youngest person to ever perform at the event, described by Carnegie Hall as "an international competition open to musicians of all ages" in which performers are chosen by a competition jury. Khajadourian is also the youngest person to ever perform at the prestigious New York City concert venue, Pietro Molteni, founder and artistic director for the Gala Concert, told the New York Post. 'I can't wait to get on stage at Carnegie Hall and play for everyone,' Khajadourian told the Post prior to his performance. 'I'm so excited!' Joe Khajadourian and Diana Sanders, Alec's parents, discovered their son's talent when the boy was a toddler, according to KNBC. In about a year, Alec began learning complicated classical music without reading sheet music. Alec has perfect pitch, which only occurs in about 1 of every 100,000 people, according to WABC-TV. "He immediately showed some real promise,' Joe told the outlet, 'and now it's developed real fast." Now 5 years old, Alec has already won first prize in three international musical competitions, according to KNBC. Shortly before his performance at Carnegie Hall, Alec made his debut at L.A.'s Disney Concert Hall, where he met Gustavo Dudamel, director of the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra. 'I'm so excited and proud of Alec for all his hard work,' Joe told the Post. 'It's such an amazing time for him.' Molteni, the Gala Concert founder, told the Post that the team at Carnegie Hall 'immediately understood the uniqueness of the situation and accommodated it with great professionalism.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'Taking the stage at such a prestigious venue allows these young musicians to see themselves as capable of achieving the highest levels of their craft,' Molteni said. He added, 'It's an extraordinary motivational boost for a young artist, who devotes countless hours to studying music in their room and pursuing one of the most demanding careers in the world.' Read the original article on People
New York Post
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
NYC's Carnegie Hall welcomes youngest piano prodigy ever to take stage
Alec Van Khajadourian plays to his strengths. And the five-year-old, a piano prodigy from Los Angeles, is poised to show off his strong suit — on one of NYC's most storied stages this Sunday. 'I can't wait to get on stage at Carnegie Hall and play for everyone,' little Alec enthused to The Post. 'I'm so excited!.' 5 Alec will shine as the youngest performer for the NY Classical Debut Awards Gala Concert at Carnegie Hall Sunday. @alecvanmusic/Instagram The ivory-tickling tot will be the youngest virtuoso performing at the NY Classical Debut Awards Gala Concert this weekend, when elementary and middle school age children from 10 countries — including Turkey, Macedonia, Macau and Poland — will show off their skills at Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall. 'Alec is our youngest performer ever,' said Pietro Molteni, the founder and artistic director for the Gala Concert. 'And, according to my records, the youngest performer in the history of Carnegie Hall.' Representatives for Carnegie Hall, however, told The Post they could not 'confirm anyone to be the youngest person to perform here since we don't have complete records of the Hall's earliest days.' In the summer of 2021, at age 3, pint-size pianist Brigitte Xie, of Ridgefield, Connecticut, was invited to perform at the world-famous venue after after winning a prestigious international music competition — but the top-of-her-game Tri-Stater reportedly wasn't able to make it due to a COVID-19-era snag. 5 Following his impressive winning streak, Alec was invited to perform at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in July. @alecvanmusic/Instagram Alec's triumphant journey to Carnegie started on a similar note — besting his pint-sized peers at not one, but three major events. Armed with perfect pitch — the ability to correctly identify or produce a musical note, a rarity found in only one in 10,000, or .01% of people, per reports — the bitty Beethoven buff began running his fingers across the piano keys shortly after taking his first steps. 'He would walk over to the piano when he first started walking, punching a few notes,' dad Joe Khajadourian, previously told ABC7. 'You could just see the huge grin on his face.' At age four, the talented tyke began fine-tuning his innate knack with piano lessons last year. 5 The tiny hotshot, a fan of Beethoven, began playing the piano while he was still in diapers, say his parents. . @alecvanmusic/Instagram In March 2025, he won first prize at the Charleston International Music Competition in South Carolina. He then dominated in the Big Apple, securing top honors at the 2025 NY Classical Debut Awards International Competition in April. And while most kids were busy dreaming about summer vacation, Alec was taking the gold at the 2025 Los Angeles Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition. The win earned him an exclusive invitation to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall in the City of Angels on July 1. The mini maestro will continue his success streak at Gotham's acclaimed concert venue, where artists, from composers such as Antonín Dvořák and Gustav Mahler, to modern-day hitmakers like Jay Z, have, too, made their mark. 'I'm so excited and proud of Alec for all his hard work,' Joe tells The Post. 'It's such an amazing time for him.' 5 The five-year-old giddly tells The Post he's 'excited' to take one of NYC's most hallowed stages. @alecvanmusic/Instagram Both he and Alec's mother, Diana Sanders, have been granted permission to accompany the little luminary behind the curtains ahead of his W. 57th St. showcase, says Molteni. '[The NY Classical Debut Awards] and the Carnegie Hall staff made a few exceptions to the venue's strict rules — for instance, the policy prohibiting parents backstage,' Molteni explained, citing Alec's young age. 'The incredible Carnegie Hall team, including our amazing concert manager, Lorella Bergamo, immediately understood the uniqueness of the situation and accommodated it with great professionalism,' he added before emphasizing the importance of spotlighting gifted go-getters like Alec. 5 The boy's mother and father, Diana Sanders and Joe Khajadourian, expressed their abiding pride in Alec to The Post. @alecvanmusic/Instagram 'Taking the stage at such a prestigious venue allows these young musicians to see themselves as capable of achieving the highest levels of their craft,' he said. 'It's an extraordinary motivational boost for a young artist, who devotes countless hours to studying music in their room and pursuing one of the most demanding careers in the world.' Mom Diana agrees. 'It's beautiful to watch Alec share his love for the piano with so many people,' she gushed, 'and to inspire young kids to pursue music.'
Al Etihad
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Emirati, UK artists unite at Kensington Palace for gala concert by Abu Dhabi Festival, PPT
9 June 2025 20:19 ABU DHABI (WAM)Abu Dhabi Festival, in collaboration with the Peace and Prosperity Trust (PPT), premiered an extraordinary gala concert with Emirati and international artists at the prestigious Kensington Palace on June 6, marking a significant milestone in the 'Abu Dhabi Festival Abroad' special performance also highlights the festival's mission to build cultural capacities and foster global collaboration through co-production was the culmination of an intensive three-week UK Artist Residency Programme, supported by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) in partnership with the Peace and Prosperity Trust (PPT).During the residency, Emirati artists engaged in rigorous training, rehearsals and seminars with esteemed instructors across prestigious musical venues. The resulting performance presented a repertoire that blended Emirati traditions with global influences and underscored the vital role of cultural exchange in shaping artistic conversations and inspiring new creative the heart of the evening was the world premiere of Ruins of Time, a powerful new composition exclusively commissioned by ADMAF from acclaimed Emirati composer Ihab Darwish, recognised for bringing the UAE's cultural identity to global audiences through programme also featured mezzo-soprano Fatima Al Hashimi performing masterpieces by Saint-Saëns, Mozart and Jule Styne, and baritone Ahmed Al Hosani presenting celebrated works by De Curtis and Bizet, alongside international musicians from the concert was conducted by Toby Purser, Artistic Director of the Peace and Prosperity Trust. Together, they shone a spotlight on the immense talent emerging from the UAE and its meaningful contribution to the international creative landscape. The concert followed the success of the Abu Dhabi Festival's pioneering 'Arts @ Embassies' cultural diplomacy initiative, held on May 22 at the UAE Embassy in three exceptional Emirati artists took part in a panel discussion where they shared their artistic journeys and heartfelt reflections on heritage, identity, innovation, and discovery – narratives that are helping shape the future of music. The panel reaffirmed the power of the arts as a platform to foster dialogue, promote understanding, and strengthen cultural ties between the UAE and the Al Khamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF and Founder of Abu Dhabi Festival, remarked that the Kensington Palace Gala Concert — held under the patronage and in the presence of HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, in partnership with the Peace and Prosperity Trust — and the 'Arts @ Embassies' panel discussion, presented as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival Abroad programme, mark the beginning of a new chapter in cultural diplomacy between the UAE and the said, 'This world premiere performance by composer Ihab Darwish, mezzo-soprano Fatima Al Hashimi, and baritone Ahmed Al Hosani, reflects our vision to promote knowledge exchange, cultural dialogue, and the global presentation of Emirati artistic and musical achievements, consolidating the UAE's position as an incubator of creativity and a destination for innovators.'She added, "In parallel with this historic co-production, we also presented the fourth annual edition of our pioneering cultural diplomacy initiative, 'Arts @ Embassies.' As part of the programme, we organised a panel discussion featuring the three exceptional Emirati artists, moderated by Emirati filmmaker and producer Noor Kanoo, to highlight their journeys and experiences in composition and music.'"Culture enhances the depth and strength of diplomatic relations and adds momentum to them. The arts are the bridge that unites us, creating bonds that transcend borders. Therefore, our presentation of Emirati artists within the UK Artist Residency Programme - supported by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) in partnership with The Peace and Prosperity Trust - allows art itself to lead the way."This is one of many successful partnerships that ADMAF has established with British cultural institutions for more than two decades, built on the foundation of cooperation and the long-standing friendship shared by the UK and the UAE,' she Khouri, Founder of the Peace and Prosperity Trust (PPT), stressed the uniqueness of the concert at Kensington Palace, noting it was the first-ever collaboration of PPT with the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF).'Not only is it the first time that Emirati artists have collaborated with PPT artists, but it also marks the world premiere of a composition by Ihab Darwish, created especially for this occasion. I was truly amazed that what started with a modest concept, a musical fusion between opera and Arabic music, has grown into a unique cultural brand, gathering its own audiences and practitioners,' he added, 'In the past, the repertoire was often chosen to mirror the needs and purposes of the concerts, but tonight's concert is a showcase for six artists, all at different stages of their careers, from a vast range of backgrounds and musical styles, and with no artistic agenda per se, except to produce music to the best of their abilities.'"This concert comes at the end of three weeks of coaching and training which the Emirati singers underwent with renowned professional artists. It is the result of a visionary idea made possible by Huda Al Khamis-Kanoo, when she met a couple of years ago with The Duke of Gloucester and me.'Through the universal language of music, the collaboration between the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and The Peace & Prosperity Trust unites their vision of promoting Emirati culture on a global stage. This partnership also plays a vital role in raising the international profile of Emirati artists, fostering their professional growth and expanding their exposure to new and diverse audiences around the Kensington Palace concert and the 'Arts @ Embassies' talk in the UK signal a new chapter in a long-standing journey of exchange and mutual respect between ADMAF and the UK. Since 2007, ADMAF has initiated and supported a wide range of collaborative programmes, inspired by the vision of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose legacy of cultural exchange continues to shape the Festival's mission.
Al-Ahram Weekly
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Not to be missed: Al Nour Wal Amal Orchestra in Cairo Opera, Black Theama in El-Sakia, Tablet Elsitt in 6 October - Music - Arts & Culture
Ahram Online highlights a selection of do-not-miss events this week from 5 to 12 February in Cairo. Mohamed Abdel-Wahab tribute - music Thursday, 6 February, 7:30pm Noir Art Zone, 3 Soliman Alhalaby, Azbakia, Downtown, Cairo The night will feature compositions by the late renowned composer and singer Mohamed Abdel-Wahab. Abdelwahab composed over 50 film songs, including those of renowned singers like Abdel-Halim Hafez, Leila Mourad, Shadia, Sabah, Faiza Ahmed, Nagat, and Warda. In his oud playing, he mastered the art of blending Arab poems and pieces with Western rhythms. Al Nour Wal Amal Orchestra Thursday, 6 February, 8pm Small Hall, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek, Cairo Al Nour Wal Amal Chamber Orchestra is Egypt's renowned orchestra of blind and visually impaired women musicians. The orchestra is part of the Al Nour Wal Amal Association, an NGO for blind girls founded in 1954. It includes a few generations of musicians performing in Egypt and worldwide. The upcoming concert will feature the older generation of musicians led by maestro Mahmoud Bayoumi. Tchaikovsky Gala Concert - music Thursday, 6 February, 8pm Main Hall, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek, Cairo The gala concert will feature music by Tchaikovsky, one of history's most influential composers. Tchaikovsky's most iconic works include Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and 1812 Overture. The night, led by maestro Nader Abbasi, will feature pianist Ramzi Yassa. Black Theama - music Thursday, 6 February, 8pm River Hall, El-Sawy Culturewheel, 26th of July Str., Zamalek, Cairo Black Theama are performing on many stages in Egypt and the region to thousands of their fans. The band was nominated for Best Group, Best Live Act, Best Song, and Best Video Clip for the song Fi Belad Al-Ayy Haga (In the Country of Anything) at the 2013 World Music Awards. Being from Aswan, the band members' compositions and arrangements fuse Nubian, Sudanese, and other African influences with reggae, hip-hop, and R&B. Mahmoud El-Tohamy - music Friday, 7 February, 8pm Wisdom Hall, El-Sawy Culturewheel, 26th of July Str., Zamalek, Cairo Mahmoud El-Tohamy started his career early in his boyhood by following his father's footsteps and performing Sufi poetry chants in many prestigious venues in Egypt and the Arab World. He worked alongside Egyptian Grammy Award winner Fathy Salama. He also collaborated on various projects with younger music producers, including Rouh El-Maliha with Molotof, a key player in the Egyptian rap scene best known for Wegz's hit Dorak Gai. Tablet Elsitt - music Friday, 7 February, 8pm The Theatre, Movenpick Media City, 6 October, Cairo The troupe consists of women percussionists. The group, founded in 2019 by folk music student and enthusiast Soha Mohamed, is restoring Egypt's musical heritage. Abdel Halim Nowera Ensemble for Arab Music Sunday, 9 February, 8pm Arabic Music Institute, 22 Ramsis Str., Downtown Cairo In memory of the prominent 20th-century Egyptian singer Um Kulthoum, the ensemble will perform her songs. Abdel Halim Nowera Ensemble for Arab Music was founded in 1967 by Maestro Abdel Halim Nowera. The ensemble's mission is to revive the authentic musical heritage, presenting various traditional vocal and musical forms. Conducted by maestro Salah Ghobashy, the evening will feature solo singers Asmaa Kamal and Nehad Fathy. Cassette 90 Band - music Tuesday, 11 February, 8pm Room Art Space, New Cairo The band consists of eight musicians who revived the songs of the 1990s. Their work includes songs by Egyptian singers Mostafa Amar, Hisham Abbas, Alaa Abdelkhalek, and Ehab Tafwik. Short link:
