West and the Europeans have long had a love affair with the classical arts and music and no doubt plays host to internationally renowned artistes. It defines heritage and culture and transports you to just another world, if you’re a keen lover for violin, piano or any instrument for that matter. The trend seems to be shifting its place and is definitely taking over the world, and Doha in particular. On windy Friday evening, Bart De Goof, Ambassador of Belgium, hosted a classical European chamber music concert at his residence.
The concert was attended by notable personalities, including ambassadors and diplomats with their families. They all enjoyed performance of young and talented instrumentalists, who enchanted the audience particularly with violin and piano.
The concert was organised in partnership with Qatar Music Academy. The concert featured Belgian violin talent Julia Salvaggio, laureate of first Qatar National Music Competition; Joris Laenen, Belgian trumpet player at Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra; and Sonja Park, a pianist.
Born in 2002, Julia started playing violin when she was just three-year-old. She has music teachers from Ukraine, Hungary, Russia, Romania, Italy and more, and was admitted at the Qatar Music Academy since its inception in 2011. She played private concerts for several notable personalities, including Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, several ministers and ambassadors, and was invited to play with Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, Winton Marshs and other renowned professional musicians. In 2017, she was the first QMA student to win an international music competition. She’s a student at Parkhouse English School in Doha, and is an early and active member of the Qatar Youth Orchestra.
Steinway artiste, Sonja Park was born in South Korea and studied in Vienna. As a sought-after soloist and chamber musicians, she has performed in prestigious venues. She is the co-founder of Moving Young Artistes which hosted the first Qatar National Music Competition. She is also the founder of International Chamber Music Concerts Series for Peace and Unity, supported by six embassies, including UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia and Germany. Sonja is also a jury member of the International Brahms Competition and Gulf Chopin Piano Competition. Currently, Sonja is residing in Qatar and enjoying her busy schedule with performing, teaching, and organising concerts for young talents.
Welcoming the gathering, the Belgian ambassador said, “Qatar Music Academy, community members, and friends, I am very happy to have you all in our house to attend the music concert. Many of you were probably at Qatar National Convention Cnetre a few days ago when a brilliant performance was presented by Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra on its 10 anniversary. It made you realise that how far this city has come in the last 10 years in classical music. Doha has really become, I would say, a focal point of Western, Arab and other music fusions in the region. I am actually very proud of that.
“I am also very proud to have one or two Belgian components in this musical adventure that we are having in Qatar. It is our pleasure to introduce to you one young Belgian talent, Julia. She has also brought some friends. We have performer from Qatar Music Academy as well. There are lots of different things happening in Qatar and we are very happy to see that and to be a part of that. It is an opportunity for us to showcase what we have as the Belgian embassy and to promote this chamber music. It also helps in bringing the Belgian community together.”
Dr Ozgur Mert Esen, Head of Western Music Department at Qatar Music Academy, said, “I welcome you all to the Chamber Concert. Qatar Music Academy is the only professional institution around the region established in 2011 as a member of Qatar Foundation to produce next generation world class musicians. It also carries out research on the musical heritage of the region. The academy represents over 50 countries from where different students and teachers are coming. The diversity of its family is the most important quality of the academy. Our students have received and won many prizes from over 20 international competitions. They have performed in many prestigious concerts in over 60 countries around the world. I see this process as a miracle for an institution that was established only eight years ago.”
VIOLINIST: Julia Salvaggio, laureate of first Qatar National Music Competition, playing at the event. Photos by Ram Chand
