The German embassy and the Goethea-Institut Gulf Region are bringing a “unique choir exchange” as part of Qatar Germany 2017 Year of Culture. The Doha Youth Choir invited the famous “Magdeburger Knabenchor” (Magdeburg Boys and Men Choir) to join for a cultural and musical experience in Qatar from April 7 to 12. 
The choir exchange is independently financed by the Doha Youth and Junior Choirs, their families and choir sponsors Millennium Hotel, Yamaha Fifty One East, Saracen Community Initiative, Doha College and German International School of Doha. The travel costs of the German choir are financed by special funds of the Goethe-Institut. 
German ambassador Hans-Udo Muzel said, “I welcome Magdeburger Knabenchor to Doha, one of the best German Boys Choirs, and I wish us an exciting concert together with their hosts of Doha Youth and Junior Choirs. Many thanks to our partners, the Doha Youth and Junior Choirs, Qatar Museums and the German International School Doha!” 
Part of the exchange program is a joint concert of both choirs at the German International School on April 8 at 7:30pm. Alena Pyne, director of the Doha Youth Choir, initiated this exchange during a visit to Germany. Pyne said, “The concert programme will present a mix of songs from around the world.  The Doha Junior Choir will sing songs by Arvo Part and a Maori song from New Zealand. Doha Youth Choir will contribute songs from Arabia, America, Africa, Northern and Eastern Europe to the programme. The lyrics will be in German, Latvian, Serbian, Georgian and English. Also, more modern arrangements of music by the Beatles and by Sting are part of the concert. The German choir will perform pieces by Mozart, Carl Maria von Weber, Mendelssohn, Schubert and Max Reger.” 
She added, “The concert will close with all three choirs singing together. This is a true highlight, because you do not have the chance very often in Doha to hear 100 youths sounding in such a harmony that will fill the room. Fifty singers from Qatar side by side with fifty singers from Germany – this is why we have chosen the title ‘Fifty/ Fifty’ for the concert.”
The concert is a ticketed event. Tickets are available at qtickets.com/fifty-fifty 
Qatar Germany 2017 Year of Culture is a year-long program designed to deepen understanding between nations through the mutual exchange of arts, culture, heritage and sport, developed by Qatar Museums in partnership with the Goethe-Institut 
Gulf Region, the German Embassy in Doha and the Embassy of Qatar in Germany.