Concert festival an international music fiesta
‘Evening of dreams’
KUWAIT CITY, May 30: The Kuwait Music Academy did it once again and lived up to the expectations of supporters and well-wishers who have been the backbone of the Academy since its establishment almost 13 years ago. It was an ‘evening of dreams’, said the concert goers of this phenomenal whole day concert which was held last Friday, May 27, at the Al-Shaheed Park in the heart of Kuwait City for the first time.
The Visitors Centre Multipurpose Hall of the Park has been specially designed for cultural activities, particularly to entertain the youth during such festivals. The stage, the lighting and audio equipment and most of all the hospitality at the hall is awesome.
Several hundred people filled to capacity enjoyed this ‘whole-day’ event, which began at 11:00 am.
The curtain raiser for the event was the performance of ‘Bugles by the tiny Arab girl Aisha Kassem. It is noteworthy to mention her young mother sang Aria from A. Scarlatti at the end of the concert. This was the characteristic of the festival because many contestants were represented by more than one member.
Aisha was followed by a few other ‘tiny tots’ from Kuwait, Chile, India, Spain, Iran and Syria. A total of five consecutive concerts were staged from 11:00 am until 9:00 pm with more than 130 young musical talents living in Kuwait presenting their skills and achievements.
Between them there were small children, teenagers and even adults of every level and age (the youngest performer was four years old) — Kuwaitis and expatriates from more than twenty countries China, Poland, Egypt, Japan, Korea, United Kingdom, Syria, Nigeria, Bahrain, US, Armenia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Lebanon, Iran, Argentina, Canada, Iraq, Hungary, New Zealand, Romania, France and so on.
They presented both the classical and entertaining repertoire on piano, violin, and flute, singing songs and arias from all époques, cultures and nationalities. It created a real atmosphere of the international Music Fiesta.
The hundreds of the people who had thronged the Multipurpose Hall warmly applauded their sons and daughters, relatives, friends and students and music lovers and even those who are not too much familiar with music.
Showcase
The traditional Evening Gala Concert presented the young, well-known artistes in front of hundreds of music lovers including several VIP guests. Except for the satisfaction of amateurs of music in Kuwait the purpose of Concert was to showcase the talent of the participants in the ‘Treasure of Talents’ and to show how much is possible to achieve at a young age which leads to developing personal talent, promote faith in oneself which is a fruit of good support and proper education.
The Main Prize of the 2016 Festival went to Teji Wang, a talented pianist, flutist and violinist, winner of several competitions and festivals in the Gulf and Kuwait and holder of Diplomas from Royal Academic Exams, London UK. The prize was presented by General Manager of CSCEC (Chinese State Engineering), one of the Major Sponsors of the festival and Prof Cezary Owerkowicz, (in the name the other Founder of Kuwait Music Academy, Mrs Fajer Al-Mazidi) who was unable to attend the event due to prior commitments.
The founders of KMA also offered Teji the Academy’s full scholarship.
The ladies made a majority of winners. The Best Kuwaiti performer went to Donia Ramadan (lovely daughter of two stars at the KTV).
Taking opportunity of his presence, Prof Cezary invited for the presentation ceremony the best Kuwaiti pianist, Faisal Al-Bahairi, former student of the KMA.
Surprisingly The Best Kuwaiti Junior Prize went to tiny Noor Al-Rezaihan. The promotion of talented females is the duty not only in Kuwait but everywhere. On the basis of this belief, The Prize for The Best Female went to Indian Manasi Handikar. The Musicality Prize went to Fiona Hood from the US and her brother Henry Hood walked away with the Champion of Music Theory. He scored 100 out of 100 in the Royal Exam, just unbelievable.
The Prestigious Chopin Prize winner with Chopin Nocturne was Tareq Yamen Mohammed. Other Festival prize winners are listed below.
This year the entire concert was prepared and performed by the young and very young generation of local artistes.
The Guest Star of the concert was the Chinese musical prodigy who is wellknown in Kuwait and the entire Gulf region, Haiwei Li. Last year he received the Special Award from HH Minister of Information and Youth.
Haiwei has won all possible prizes and trophies during international and national music competitions and festivals in our country and the region: in Kuwait, Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and so on. In his early teens he completed all grades of the Royal Exams ABRSM, London, UK and began giving concerts abroad from UK to China. Wherever, he has presented his works, he has been recognized as a boy from Kuwait. To his concerts he often adds the Kuwaiti flavor by adding classical repertoire to Kuwaiti songs which he sings passionately.
The same was with the gala concert. He opened the performance with top classic repertoire with J.S. Bach Prelude and Fugue and Beethoven Sonata. Baroque Fugue was presented excellently in polyphonic voices but Beethoven was played with passion in perfect structure, for which he is well-known.
A group photo after the awarding ceremony.
A group photo after the awarding ceremony.
of Dreams’.
The preparation for this unforgettable event, the students and performances and unlimited devoted support for the event from people in every field brings honor to the KMA lecturers from Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey — Inna Agibalova, Kinga Masternak, Violeta Shabanliyska, Tugce Polat Al Najar, Karol Masternak, Piotr Podemski and Tudor Buciumanu.
The following is the prize list for the Kuwait Music Academy 15th Festival of the Treasure of Talents — May 27, 2016.
Winners
Winner of Grand Prix of KMA ToT Festival 2016, Hai Wei Li; the main prize winner of Scholarship of KMA, Teji Wang; Chopin Prize, Yamen Tareq Moh’d; Champion of Music Theory, Henry Hood; the Best Female Prize, Manasi Hardicar; the Best Kuwaiti, Dania Ramadan; the Best Junior Kuwaiti Noor Al Rezaihan; Musicality Prize, Fiona Hood; the Best Progress Prize, Abhishek Bridhaban; other winners are Dana H. Safar, Dora H. Safar, Julia Ali Ali, Julia Pius, Haya Al Dajani, Kirti Kaur Lamba, Mohammed Ali El Dirani, Shaun Thomas, Tala Elkukhun, Zainab Abu Ghazaleh, The Best Junior Prize, Aisha Alexandra Kassem, Dana Roy, Gabrielle Khalaf, Hanya Hashem, Melika Raeisi, Peilong Zang.
The Best Theory Prize winner is Tejia Wang; the Best Vocal Prize, Akansha Fernandes; Christos Scoufaridis; the Adult Star Prize, Majida El Zatari and Rana M.H. Fahl.
The Youngest Stars are Abdullah Al Ghanim, Abdullah Ahmed Al Sarraf, Agatha Sierra, Albatoul Salah Zankawi, Amani Matheen, Anadel Al Rashed, Farah Al Alawi, Fatima Lari, Iman Mohamed, Lea Kendirian, Qais El Dirani, ReemAlmejadi, Rhea Alita George, Riccardo Cotrufo, Riyana Dagher, Sabrina Daoudi, Sarah Al Shihab and Yasmeen Roy.
List of participants of the Kuwait Music Academy’s 15th ‘Treasure of Talents’ Festival, 2016.
Preparatory Course /Grade 1 — Abdelwahab Al Mutawa, Abdullah Al-Ghanim, Abdullah Al Mutawa, Abdullah Ahmad Al-Sarraf, Aisha Alexandra Kassem (Distinction), Aisha Al-Saleh, Alaa Al Wazzan, Elena Barrios, Fatima Lari, Reem Almejadi (violin), Iman Mohamed, Jana Bukhamseen, Juliette Mattar, Lea Kendirjian, Leya Dagher (vocal), Maryiam Alown, Maya Jazzade, Noor Al Aradi, Rahman Dass, RiyanaDagher, Wafaa Al Aradi Yasmeen Roy Zahraa Al Mazeedi.
Grade 2 — Agatha Sierra, Akansha Fernandes (Distinction), Albatoul Salah Zankawi, Dana Behbehani (vocal), Farah Al Alawi, Farah Ibrahim, Hanya Hashem (Distinction), Lea Alkoum (vocal), Qayis El Dirani, Rahaf Al Fadhli, Riccardo Cotrufo, Sabrina Daoudi, Sarah Al Shihab, Wasmiyah Al Musaileem and Yufei Mou (Distinction).
Primary Course/Grade 3 — Abdel Rahman Al Menifi, AbdulrahmanAlAwadi (Distinction), Aisha Al-Saleh, Anadel Al Rashed, Chow Chen (Distinction), Dalia Daoudi, Ibtissam Ghaddar, Laila Al-Shaheen, Lucas Valent, Mira Naamani, Moudhi Abdullazez Al-Sabah, Nezar Omar, Noor Al-Rezaihan (Distinction), Nour Hamel, Peilong Zhang (Distinction), Rakan Ghaddar, Rea Alita George, Sama El-Ebrahim (Distinction), Sara Raed Al-Qassar, Seza Kendirjian (Distinction), Simon Valent and Zainab Abu-Ghazaleh (vocal/ Distinction).
Grade 4 — Abril Duarte-Gonzalez, Dora H. Safar (Distinction), Fahed AlRezaihan Faye Al-Tourah (violin) Henry Hood (Distinction), Philippe Wakim Shaun Thomas (Distinction) and Taniya Mishra (Distinction).
Grade 5 — Armani Shenaya Matheen, Aliyaan Amlani-Kurji, Dana Roy (Distinction), Gabrielle Khalaf (piano, vocal) Distinction Habiba El Sonbaty, Melanie Daher, Melisa Raeisi (Distinction) and Olivia Sieminski (Distinction).
Intermediate Course/ Grade 6 — Akansha Fernandes (vocal), Carmen J.E. Birch, Dana H. Safar (Distinction), Fiona Hood (Distinction), Joseph Armani (Distinction), Mia Daher, Noor Machtoub and Shubhanghi Sharma.
Grade 7 — Ameena Ahmad, Laila Naga, Mohammed Ali El Dirani (Distinction); Nicol Watfi, Nicholas Thomas, Oscar Sauvan (Distinction); Tamara Mamlouk and Tejia Wang (Distinction).
Grade 8 — Easa Aiman Alaraj, Haya Al Dajani, (Distnction); John Russel, Julia Pius (Distinction) and Yamen Tarek Moh’d (Distinction).
Grade 9 — Carol Watfi, Farah K. AlKhamees, Farma Marafie, Tala Al Rayes (Distinction); Tala Elkukhun (Distinction) and Zaina Al-Ali (Distinction).
Secondary Course (Grade 10) — Anisha Shehnaz Matheen, Dania Ramadan (Distinction); Donaven Jules Lobo (Distinction); Fay Khoudeir, Kim Jung Woo, Ma Yan Nan and Mishary Al Rashed.
Higher Course (Grade 11-12) — Abhinava Phukan (Distinction); Abhishek Brindhaban (Distinction); Julia Ali Ali (Distinction); Kirti Kaur Lamba (Distinction); Manasi Hardikar (Distinction).
Academic Course — Hai Wei Li (Distinction), Teji Wang (Distinction).
Adult Courses — Amani Al Din (vocal), Altaf Al Harbi, Ayman Farghaly, BaderAl Munayes, Christos Scoufaridis (vocal), Elaf Al Tattan (vocal), Emab Abdulaziz Al-Shatti, Fatemeh Raisi, Haya Alabhool, Ismaeli Avdullah Merza, Jacqueline Johnston, Khadijah Ashkanani, Maha Bourdy, Majida El Zataari, Majid Kh. Al-Sharhan, Mikaela Kassem (vocal), MunirahTaha Al-Jaser, Maha Abdulsalam, Sarah Alajmi, Talal Boodai and Rana M.H. Fahl (Distinction).