MIDDLE EAST CLASSICAL MUSIC ACADEMY
In April 2025, the Student Symphony Orchestra of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory will take part in the fourth season of the Middle East Classical Music Academy (MECMA), which will once again be held in Dubai, UAE. For this young ensemble, participation in the Academy represents a unique opportunity to showcase their artistry on an international stage and to receive training from globally renowned figures in the field of classical music.
Following three highly acclaimed editions, MECMA 2025 is set to become the most ambitious and large-scale iteration of the Academy to date. Its core mission remains unchanged — to bring together gifted young musicians from across the globe in an environment of creativity, knowledge exchange, and artistic excellence.
From 6 to 21 April, participants will engage in an intensive programme featuring masterclasses for youth orchestras and choral ensembles. These sessions are designed to allow students to refine their skills both as members of a collective and within their respective instrumental sections.
The Academy will also host a series of individual masterclasses covering a wide range of instruments, including violin, cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, piano, and others. These classes will be delivered by distinguished educators, professors, and soloists, including musicians from the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra (Japan) and the Franz Schubert Filharmonia (Spain).
The most outstanding participants will be invited to perform in a daytime concert series hosted at some of Dubai’s leading venues. These concerts will feature collaborations with the Middle East Classical Music Youth Orchestra, alongside appearances by internationally acclaimed soloists.
In addition, all MECMA participants will receive complimentary access to the 14th edition of the InClassica International Music Festival, which will take place concurrently with the Academy. Widely recognised as one of the world’s foremost classical music festivals, InClassica will present 16 concerts at Dubai Opera, featuring 2 international orchestras, 5 renowned conductors, and 13 award-winning soloists. Among the celebrated performers are violinists Gil Shaham (USA), Maxim Vengerov (Monaco), and Daniel Lozakovich (Sweden), pianists Mikhail Pletnev (Switzerland) and Behzod Abduraimov (Uzbekistan), and French cellists Gautier Capuçon and Edgar Moreau, among many others.
Upon successful completion of the programme, participants will receive graduation diplomas, along with invaluable professional experience, lasting international friendships, and a wealth of artistic insight. These achievements will serve as a strong foundation for their future careers in the world of classical music.
