Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi will offer free music lessons to children in the capital aged six to nine
Children in Abu Dhabi will have the chance to learn music for free at a new Youth Orchestra institution opening in Mina Zayed in January 2027.
Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi’s 600-seat concert hall and 18 rehearsal and practice rooms will provide a professional-standard environment for collective music-making. Enrollment for the first cohort of 100 students aged 6 to 9 is now open. Those interested in enrolling there children can explore the classes and details here. Children must audition to be considered for enrollment.
The initiative, established by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), aims to make music education accessible to young people across the emirate, with free lessons providing a starting point for children interested in learning an instrument and playing as part of an orchestra.
What styles of music will be taught?
The Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi institute will train young musicians in both Western classical and Arabic musical traditions. Additional ensembles for advanced students will be introduced during the first year of the programme.
The programme aims to establish long-term pathways for young people across the emirate to engage with music, develop their skills and progress over time.
“The Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi is an important investment in our future and in our commitment to making culture and creativity accessible to all,” said His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi. “Through its free-access to world-class music education programmes, we are creating opportunities for young people to discover their talent, develop their potential and experience the lifelong benefits that music can bring.”
“Beyond technical ability, music fosters discipline, collaboration, creativity and confidence, qualities that shape well-rounded individuals, enrich communities and contribute to a more vibrant society,” he concluded.
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