Checkpoint Music
Students in Ramzi Aburedwan?s music class in Beit Jala. Image by Tomer Appelbaum
Crossposted from Haaretz
The Qalandiyah checkpoint, which over the years has become increasingly fortress-like, had yet to witness such a sight. Young people streamed toward it from both sides, armed with suspicious black cases and metal poles. The cases turned out to be for musical instruments, and the poles were folding music stands.
Students in Ramzi Aburedwan?s music class in Beit Jala. Image by Tomer Appelbaum
The youth belonged to the Ramallah Orchestra, whose musicians are from across the city, Palestinians and foreigners, who operate under the auspices of the local Al-Kamandjati (in English: the violinist) Conservatory.
Beneath a corrugated metal awning set up at the checkpoint, which abuts the Qalandiyah refugee camp and serves as a filter for entering Ramallah, the musicians opened their stands, took out their instruments and played a slew of classical segments — from Bizet’s “Carmen” to works by Grieg and Mozart.
A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
