Acceptance Speech of
Emirate Youth Symphony Orchestra

By Director & Conductor

Riad Kudsi

I would like to thank TECOM Investments Pearl Awards team, for awarding Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra, this prestigious award, which adds a great honor, to our already two years of honorary patronage of her Royal Highness, Princess Haya Bint Al Husain, wife of his highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed al Maktoum.

Since our establishment in 1993, our mission has been, to cultivate the talents of young musicians, towards the final goal of establishing a National Symphony Orchestra, which falls within the master plan of his highness, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, to make Dubai not only a business center, but also a city of Culture and Art.

·         Since 1993, we have held more than 200 concerts benefiting humanitarian and cultural efforts.

·         We participated in several International Music Festivals in France, Czech Republic, Germany, Kuwait, & Oman; representing Dubai and holding the image of UAE as a cultural hub.

·         Our achievement, and the recognition we received, around the world, encouraged us to organize five annual festivals since 2004 named Dubai International Peace Music Festivals for young Virtuosos, which is now well recognizes in the world of music.

·         More than 300 young alumni members of our Orchestra have become the music ambassadors of Dubai in their home countries. Nine of them are continuing their music education in world renowned music universities.

Symphony Orchestras around the world cannot survive as a business alone, commitments from philanthropic contributors from private and public sectors are important for their survival.

I would like to thank all the private sector companies who sponsored us in the past. I look forward to seeing a more direct engagement in our programs, to enable us plan our activities in advance to attract a bigger audience.

Dubai Media City

Knowledge Village

Dubai Culture and Art Authority

Dubai Immigration

Ministry of Culture in UAE

They have all supported our efforts and events, demonstrating the importance that the government of Dubai and UAE attach, to the cultural and artistic contribution we make to our community. I thank them all for their continued encouragement and sponsorships of events.

I am confident, that the generous encouragement and support we get from these government establishments will help us achieve our goal of establishing the National Conservatory, where UAE nationals and residents can join, to set the stage for establishing the UAE National Symphony Orchestra which I dream about.   Thank you.