Oud player Abdulaziz Saleh, a member of the Oud Trio ensemble affiliated with the Music Affairs Centre at the Ministry of Culture, will serve on the judging panel of the “Rising Stars 2026” competition, organised by Sherborne Qatar School in collaboration with a number of schools across Qatar.
The event will take place on June 20 at Mall of Qatar and will feature a distinguished panel of musicians, academics, and specialists in music and arts education.
The competition provides a professional platform for children and teenagers aged 6 to 16 to showcase their talents in two categories: Solo Singing and Solo Instrumental Performance. Contestants compete across three age groups following a series of auditions and qualifying rounds leading up to the grand final, which will be held at the Oasis Stage in Mall of Qatar.
Representing the Music Affairs Centre on the judging panel, Abdulaziz Saleh will join a number of adjudicators from the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. The winners will be honoured by Khalid al-Salem, director of the Music Affairs Centre, alongside a representative of the Orchestra. The competition will feature 19 finalists competing in the singing and instrumental categories, with six winners to be selected — three from each category.
In a press statement, Saleh said that serving on the judging panel provides an important opportunity to observe and encourage emerging musical talents, emphasising the value of initiatives that offer young people professional platforms to showcase their artistic abilities and develop their creative skills.
He added that such competitions play a significant role in discovering promising talent and giving them space to express their artistic potential, while also helping build self-confidence and refine performance skills among participants.
Saleh said: “The level of enthusiasm for music among children and young people reflects the presence of promising talents that deserve support and nurturing. These initiatives represent a genuine investment in a new generation of creative artists.”
He highlighted that the diversity of artistic backgrounds and professional expertise among the judging panel members contributes to a fair and balanced evaluation process, helping identify distinguished talents and encouraging them to continue their artistic journeys.
