Zohra – The Afghan Women’s Orchestra – is winner of Freemuse Award 2017 | Freemuse
▻http://freemuse.org/archives/13407
Zohra is the first and only all women orchestra in Afghanistan. They are students at the National Institute of Music (ANIM) and the first women in their families, community and country to learn music in over 30 years.
Afghanistan’s musical scene suffered enormously in the last decades of the 20th century due to war, exile of musicians, and the draconian policies of the Taliban banning music entirely. Additionally, the extremist policies of the Taliban in regards to women’s rights dealt a huge blow to the education, employment and social rights of Afghan girls and women.
Moved by the critical state of music, musicians, music education and women in his native country, Dr Ahmad Sarmast, a visionary and the first Afghan to obtain a doctorate in music, initiated a groundbreaking project to revive and promote musical education in Afghanistan, which led to the establishing of ANIM in 2010.
One of ANIM’s primary commitments is to empower girls through music. Today 65 out of 200 students are girls aged between 14 to 20 years.
Zohra – The Afghan Women’s Orchestra – winner of the 2017 Freemuse Award
▻http://us3.campaign-archive2.com/?u=2bad7529ee81d0af3b80ef4ce&id=cd7810cc18&e=d07c55508d
Zohra – The Afghan Women’s Orchestra winner of the 2017 Freemuse Award
The students of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) defy the odds against them as the first women in their families, community and country to learn music in over 30 years.
“With exceptional courage and dedication these young women are breaking new ground and have become important role models for any Afghan welcoming the return of music and the rights to exercise and take part in cultural life.”
The Freemuse Award motivation
The Freemuse Award will be presented at a concert with Zohra in Geneva on Wednesday 25 January 2017 by Freemuse co-founder Marie Korpe.