Overlooking the Persian Gulf, Qatar’s luxury hotels and shopping centers attract all manner of tourists. The country’s equally luxurious historical museums and mosques along with its musical academy and unique seaside traditions make the tiny gulf country’s culture ripe for exploring, experiencing and performing.
Classical Movements started traveling to the Middle East in 1994, first with its brochure program to Turkey under Blue Heart Tours. Egypt was added to the roster of Middle Eastern nations soon after, along with stand-alone projects to Jordan and Israel. Over the course of the 25 year history of the company, Classical Movements has arranged numerous tours to the Middle East including to Oman, Qatar, Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the Collegiate Chorale, Yale Symphony Orchestra, Yale Alumni Chorus, George Washington University, Yale Glee Club and the Yale Institute of Music (among others). In 2003, the company worked with the State Department to bring the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra to the Kennedy Center for a high profile concert and exchange. Classical Movements has organized an educational tour of Syria and Jordan for George Washington University’s Elliot School of International Affairs and has even facilitated the 2016 Yale Concert Band’s performance at a refugee center in Athens, Greece from outside the country. Classical Movements now works closely with Syrian musicians, such as clarinetist Kinan Azmeh who has been appointed the company’s first composer in residence.
