Young Afghan musicians to tour US
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In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, an Afghan youth, Sayed Menhaj Sadat, practices playing the cello in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, photo, a teacher, Edem Macadam Somer, plays the violin during a concert at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, photo, Afghan students play musical instruments in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, photo, an Afghan student plays the French Horn in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, photo, an Afghan boy, Ahmadullah, 14, practices playing the Rubab in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, photo, Afghan students practice playing the guitar in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, photo, an Afghan student practices playing the guitar in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, photo, Afghans practice playing the guitar in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, Ahmad Farid Shefta (right) of Afghanistan, teaches Afghan students how to play the trumpet in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, an Afghan girl, Gulalai plays the sitar in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, an Afghan girl, Madina (left), plays the trumpet with unidentified foreign teachers during a concert at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, Ahmad Baset of Afghanistan practices playing the trumpet in front of a mirror in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, Afghan students practice playing the bassoon and the trumpets in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, Norma Ferreira (left), from Mexico, teaches Afghan students how to play drum in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, Andrew Karr (second from right), from the US, teaches Afghan girl Meena Zamani, a 10-year-old orphan, how to play trumpet in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. "When I return to the orphanage and there is no trumpet, I miss my mother." says Meena Zamani, just beginning to master the instrument. "Playing takes away all my sadness." she said. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, Afghans practice playing the string instruments in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, an Afghan girl, Gulalai (left), practices playing the sitar in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo an Afghan girl (right), practices playing the piano in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, an Afghan youth, Sayed Menhaj Sadat, practices playing the cello in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, photo, a teacher, Edem Macadam Somer, plays the violin during a concert at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, photo, Afghan students play musical instruments in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, photo, an Afghan student plays the French Horn in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, photo, an Afghan boy, Ahmadullah, 14, practices playing the Rubab in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, photo, Afghan students practice playing the guitar in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, photo, an Afghan student practices playing the guitar in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Wednesday, Jan 9, 2013, photo, Afghans practice playing the guitar in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, Ahmad Farid Shefta (right) of Afghanistan, teaches Afghan students how to play the trumpet in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, an Afghan girl, Gulalai plays the sitar in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, an Afghan girl, Madina (left), plays the trumpet with unidentified foreign teachers during a concert at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, Ahmad Baset of Afghanistan practices playing the trumpet in front of a mirror in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, Afghan students practice playing the bassoon and the trumpets in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, Norma Ferreira (left), from Mexico, teaches Afghan students how to play drum in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, Andrew Karr (second from right), from the US, teaches Afghan girl Meena Zamani, a 10-year-old orphan, how to play trumpet in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. "When I return to the orphanage and there is no trumpet, I miss my mother." says Meena Zamani, just beginning to master the instrument. "Playing takes away all my sadness." she said. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, Afghans practice playing the string instruments in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo, an Afghan girl, Gulalai (left), practices playing the sitar in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Monday, Jan 7, 2013, photo an Afghan girl (right), practices playing the piano in a class at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dozens of Afghan teenagers including former street kids or orphans aged 10 to 22, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra which begins a 12-day US tour on Feb 3. -- PHOTO: AP
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Not so long ago Fakira roamed the mean streets of the Afghan capital, hawking magazines for US$0.13 (S$0.16) apiece to support her poverty-stricken family. Next month, the 15-year-old cellist appears in America's most prestigious concert halls, performing alongside other former street children and orphans of Afghanistan's decades of violence.
"Suddenly my whole life changed, and now I am going to America," she says, recounting her chance encounter with a rather improbable school that's reviving music, both Western classical and Afghan, in a country where the Taleban had made even listening to it a crime - and where a generation of musicians vanished through killings, old age or exile.
The teenager, who uses only one name like many Afghans, will be playing in the Afghan Youth Orchestra, which on Feb 3 begins a 12-day United States tour that includes concerts at Washington's Kennedy Center - President Barrack Obama has been invited - New York's Carnegie Hall and the New England Conservatory in Boston. "Most reports about Afghanistan are about suicide bombings, killings, destruction, corruption, (depicting) Afghanistan as a place where hope has died," says Mr Ahmad Sarmast, who leads the youth orchestra.
He says the young musicians will try "to show a different Afghanistan, an Afghanistan where hope is alive and the people are striving to bring about changes. The kids are the symbol of hope." The orchestra is the centerpiece of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, which Mr Sarmast founded two years ago. By all accounts, the music institute is proving a success story in a country where failed development projects - through poor planning, corruption or militant violence - are more the norm.
