Classical Movements is not operating tours to Syria at this time.

Classical Movements started traveling to the Middle East in 1994, first with its brochure program to Turkey under Blue Heart Tours. Soon after Egypt became a destination for the company, along with tours to Jordan and Israel. Over the course of the 25 year history of the company, Classical Movements has arranged many tours to the Middle East, including to Oman, Qatar, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. In 2003, the company worked with the State Department to bring the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra to the Kennedy Center on a very high profile concert and exchange. It has organized an educational tour of Syria (and Jordan) for George Washington University’s Elliot School of International Affairs. Even outside of the country, Classical Movements facilitated the 2016 Yale Concert Band’s performance at a refugee center in Athens, Greece and now works closely with Syrian musicians such as clarinetist Kinan Azmeh who has been appointed the company’s first composer in residence. 

Sights & Sounds

  • Damascus
  • Syrian National Symphony Orchestra
  • Azm Palace
  • Mausoleum of Saladin
  • Khan As’as Pasha
  • Aleppo
  • Great Mosque of Aleppo
  • Palmyra
  • Temple of Baalshamin
  • Lattakia
  • The Blue Beach
  • The Temple of Bel
  • Krac des Chevaliers

Testimonials

Press

“The musical director and conductor of the Yale Glee Club said the group chose the destination ‘because of the wonderful friendships they discovered in Turkey.’ The Turkish word ‘dost’ (friends for life) is the reason we are performing in Istanbul,’ said Jeff Douma.”

-Hürriyet Daily News, Hatice Utkan | August 5, 2010

“Khubat Abbas Abdul Razaq, a cellist and one of the orchestra’s four women members, said: “I just want to say this is an honor to come to Washington and to play here.”

Samir Yosif, a double-bass player, said: “We want to let the American people know that we have a culture, that we have something to give them. It’s a great honor to be here and we thank the people who have helped us here to play.”

-The lndependent/UK, December 12, 2003

“Blue Heart has followed its clients’ suggestions to map out its expanding destinations. Vacationers travel from Guangzhou to Hong Kong by train visit the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and Tian’anmen Square and take in a performance of the famed Shanghai Acrobats.”

-Tour and Travel News, Michael Milligan | May 8, 1995

“The Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra visit involved a human element that transcended the usual business of arranging orchestra tours for Neeta Helms, executive vice president of Classical Movements. She ushered the musicians from their first nerve-wracking security checks at New York’s JFK Airport to their last tourist stop at Rockefeller Center on the way out of the country.”

-Symphony Magazine, Rebecca Winzenreid | March, 2004

“Kevin Fox, who is working with the Neemrana Foundation, the Capital City Minstrels and Delhi School of Music in the Capital, says that the Indian singers are very keen on the music and are eager to do more and learn more about choral singing. He adds, ‘I’ve met some excellent directors and teachers here who are working very creatively to spread the musical and social benefits of group singing.'”

-Mail Today, Srijani Ganguly | Feb 15, 2017