The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is proud to announce the upcoming Zohra Orchestra performance, in celebration of 50 Years of Afghan-Australian bilateral relations and the 100thAnniversary of Afghanistan’s Reclamation of Independence. As part of their debut Australian tour, the Afghanistan National Institute of Music’s Zohra Orchestra will be showcasing two major performances in Melbourne at Monash University on the 12thof October, and at the Sydney Opera House on the 14thof October.
This tour is giving Australian and Afghans alike the rare opportunity to witness Afghanistan’s first all-female, internationally acclaimed orchestra. These 75 brave young women are students of Afghanistan’s only music school, defying the odds to attain an education and play music together, allowing them to explore their culture and identities as artists and as women. Since embarking on their first international tour in 2017, Zohra have garnered a substantial amount of praise and attention from critics and spectators across the globe, as well as awards including the Freemuse Award and Success for Women of Afghanistan from the Institute for Peace, Media, and Good Governance in 2017. Later in 2018, they were conferred with the Montluc Resistance Liberte Award.Their distinctive sound is based on a harmonious blend of classical Afghan and Western instruments in a manner that simultaneously generates cultural harmonies and showcases the nuances of traditional Afghan music.
Organised by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in cooperation with the Government of Australia and the Government of New South Wales, Zohra Orchestra’s tour to Australia aims to raise cultural engagement and people-to-people links between the two countries, and enhance people-to-people links in celebration of 50 years of this relationship. It will provide audiences with the opportunity to attain an extremely unique musical experience, whilst simultaneously showcasing the resilience and determination of Afghan youth and women to continue fighting for their rights and carry their country from strength to strength, and their dedication to ensuring that extremism has no place in Afghanistan.
Registration is essential and can be made at www.afghanaustralia.com.au. The Embassy looks forwarding to welcoming all attendees to this iconic event at Monash University on the 12thof October, and Sydney Opera House on the 14thof October to celebrate the two important milestones of 2019.