Executive Director Allegra Klein
Heading to Northern Iraq as Part of
Landmark Summer Arts Academy

In November 2003, MFH founder Allegra Klein attracted international attention by traveling to Baghdad to present much needed funds and musical instruments to the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra, playing with the orchestra during one of their rehearsals and fostering hope and goodwill amongst her Iraqi counterparts. (See her article about this trip in Strings Magazine: /mfh-articles#strings1). 

This July, Klein will return to Iraq to participate in a landmark event -- The Iraq Summer Performing and Visual Arts Academy. The Academy -- the first project of its kind in the history of Iraq -- will deliver an American educational experience to nearly 300 of the country's aspiring performers, including The Music and Ballet School of Baghdad, The Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra, The Symphony Orchestras of Erbil and Suleymania, National Folk Dancers of Iraq, and the Institutes of Fine Arts in Erbil, Suleymania, and Dohuk..

The not-for-profit organization American Voices will literally transport a faculty of U.S. and European music, dance and theater instructors to northern Iraq to create a free, multi-day educational opportunity for young Iraqi artists. Klein will represent Musicians For Harmony by providing instruction in Strings and Chamber Music, and will introduce the Suzuki violin teaching method to Iraqis for the first time in the country's history.  More information may be found here: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=14151

Contributions of sheet music, instruments, and supplies are greatly needed, and monetary contributions to offset the cost of transporting everything are also appreciated.  See next column for the complete list. 

Donate online specifying "Iraqi Summer Arts" at:

 

Send checks and supplies to:

Musicians For Harmony, Inc.
345 E. 93rd Street, Suite 12B
New York, NY 10128

ALL DONATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN JULY 10, 2007.

For more information, call (212) 996-8010 or email [email protected]

Iraqi Summer Arts Academy 2007 -- "Wish list"

Instruments:
Violins and Cellos: 1/16, 1/10, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 size only, with matching bows & cases
2 Bassoons (German style)
4 Trumpets
4 French Horns
3 Trombones
1 Bass Trombone
1 Tuba

NOTE: Wind & brass instruments should be of the highest quality.

Music Scores and Parts:
String Orchestra: Any repertoire for string orchestra**
Youth Orchestra: From Grade 1 up (jazz/Broadway/pops especially appreciated)
Chamber Music: String quartets (Mozart/Haydn/Beethoven, etc.), music for woodwind & brass ensembles
Method Books: All instruments, especially Grades 1 to 3 levels
Suzuki Method: 25 sets of Books 1 - 8, plus corresponding CDs, piano accompaniments, and related materials

**String Orchestra List
Barber, Adagio for Strings
Britten, Simple Symphony
Corelli, Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op. 6, No. 8 [and other works for strings]
Dvorak, Serenade for Strings, Op. 22
Elgar, Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20
Holst, St. Paul's Suite
Schoenberg, Suite for String Orchestra
Suk, Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 6
Tchaikovsky, Serenade in C, Op. 48
Vivaldi, The Four Seasons

NOTE:  All music should be new or in near-perfect condition.

Supplies:
Strings, esp. for child-sized instruments
Reeds
Bow Rosin 
Reed-Making Equipment
Piano-Tuning Equipment
Luthier Equipment (bridge blanks, pegs, tuners, chin rests, etc.)
Metronomes (digital only)

NOTE: All supplies must be new and in perfect condition. 

BACK TO IRAQI SUMMER ARTS ACADEMY PAGE