Zuhal Sultan
Encyclopedia
Zuhal Sultan is an Iraqi
pianist
and activist. She founded the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq
at the age of 17.
studies at the age of six with the help of a private tutor, then she auditioned to join the Music and Ballet School of Baghdad at the age of 9. After the departure from Iraq of many artists and intellectuals as a result of the 2003 Iraq War, Zuhal was left without a piano teacher. She therefore taught herself, as well as the younger students in her piano class. Despite all these difficulties, Zuhal has performed concerts both at home and abroad, including Jordan, France, Switzerland and at the Wigmore Hall
, and at the Royal Festival Hall
in London
as a member of the Leonard Bernstein Mass orchestra.
Global Changemaker in 2008, and was then invited to become a peer facilitator for their 4th Global Youth Summit in 2009. She was involved with UNICEF and UNESCO in raising awareness through concerts, speeches and media interviews on Iraqi culture as well as Iraqi children's rights and education. Zuhal was a keynote speaker at FairSay's eCampaiging forum in 2009 held at Oxford University. She also served as a Global Youth Ambassador for the New York-based charity Musicians For Harmony.
and Raw T.V. for their web-based programme Battlefront to campaign for establishing the first National Youth Orchestra of Iraq. Along with Scottish conductor Paul MacAlindin and Musicians For Harmony's artistic director Allegra Klein, she formed the orchestra with the help of the British Council
and the then Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq Barham Salih
, whom she contacted through Twitter
. The orchestra's debut was in August 2009 in the Kurdish city Al Suleimanya. The orchestra then performed in the Kurdish city of Erbil in 2010. Planning is underway are for a follow-up academy in 2011.
, Symphony Magazine, Classical Music Magazine
, International Piano Magazine, CNN
Television, British Satellite News, and the Italian and French press.
She has received nominations for the Rolex Awards: Young Laureates Programme and Clarins
Most Dynamisante Woman of 2010.
Iraqi people
The Iraqi people or Mesopotamian people are natives or inhabitants of the country of Iraq, known since antiquity as Mesopotamia , with a large diaspora throughout the Arab World, Europe, the Americas, and...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and activist. She founded the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq
National Youth Orchestra of Iraq
The National Youth Orchestra of Iraq is an orchestra compromised of musicians from different parts of Iraq. The members are aged between 14 and 29 years. They are selected every Autumn/Winter through a process of online and video auditions....
at the age of 17.
Early life and music
Born in Baghdad, Iraq, in July 1991, Zuhal Sultan is the youngest of a scientific family of two boys and two girls. Both of her parents obtained their Ph.D degrees in natural sciences from universities in the United Kingdom. She started pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
studies at the age of six with the help of a private tutor, then she auditioned to join the Music and Ballet School of Baghdad at the age of 9. After the departure from Iraq of many artists and intellectuals as a result of the 2003 Iraq War, Zuhal was left without a piano teacher. She therefore taught herself, as well as the younger students in her piano class. Despite all these difficulties, Zuhal has performed concerts both at home and abroad, including Jordan, France, Switzerland and at the Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
, and at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as a member of the Leonard Bernstein Mass orchestra.
Activism
Zuhal was chosen as a British CouncilBritish Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
Global Changemaker in 2008, and was then invited to become a peer facilitator for their 4th Global Youth Summit in 2009. She was involved with UNICEF and UNESCO in raising awareness through concerts, speeches and media interviews on Iraqi culture as well as Iraqi children's rights and education. Zuhal was a keynote speaker at FairSay's eCampaiging forum in 2009 held at Oxford University. She also served as a Global Youth Ambassador for the New York-based charity Musicians For Harmony.
National Youth Orchestra of Iraq
In 2008, she was chosen by Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
and Raw T.V. for their web-based programme Battlefront to campaign for establishing the first National Youth Orchestra of Iraq. Along with Scottish conductor Paul MacAlindin and Musicians For Harmony's artistic director Allegra Klein, she formed the orchestra with the help of the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
and the then Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq Barham Salih
Barham Salih
Barham Ahmad Salih is an Iraqi Kurdish politician. He is currently the prime minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. He is married and has a daughter who attended Princeton University and a son who graduated from King's Academy in Madaba, Jordan and currently attends Columbia.-Early life:Dr....
, whom she contacted through Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
. The orchestra's debut was in August 2009 in the Kurdish city Al Suleimanya. The orchestra then performed in the Kurdish city of Erbil in 2010. Planning is underway are for a follow-up academy in 2011.
Recognition
Zuhal has received a great deal of attention in the American and European media, including stories in the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, Symphony Magazine, Classical Music Magazine
Classical Music Magazine
Classical Music magazine is a trade magazine for the classical music profession. It champions those working in the UK classical music industry and has correspondents across Great Britain and in New York....
, International Piano Magazine, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
Television, British Satellite News, and the Italian and French press.
She has received nominations for the Rolex Awards: Young Laureates Programme and Clarins
Clarins
Clarins is a French cosmetics company specializing in skincare products and fragrances.The family company was founded in 1954 by the medical student Jacques Courtin-Clarins, who died in 2007...
Most Dynamisante Woman of 2010.