Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), affirmed the importance and value of what the Dubai National Youth Orchestra and its affiliated Strings Orchestra achieved during their tour of Vienna — successes she described as a source of pride. In a post on her official account on X, Her Highness noted that the orchestra has become the first Emirati orchestra to perform on several of the world's most prominent musical stages, with support from Dubai Culture through the Dubai Cultural Grant Programme.
Her Highness also noted that the orchestra is thereby continuing its journey of global distinction, which began in New York last year.
Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum wrote in her post: "We are proud of what the Dubai National Youth Orchestra and its affiliated Strings Orchestra achieved during their Vienna tour, becoming the first Emirati orchestra to perform on several of the world's most prominent musical stages, with support from Dubai Culture through the Dubai Cultural Grant Programme — continuing the journey of global distinction that began in New York last year."
She added: "These achievements confirm that investing in youth opens boundless horizons, and renews Dubai's commitment to continuing to embrace creativity and empower talent."
In the same context, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority celebrated the exceptional achievement of the Dubai National Youth Orchestra and its affiliated Strings Orchestra following a series of musical performances at some of the most prominent theatres and concert halls in the Austrian capital Vienna, including the Wiener Konzerthaus, the Musikverein (Golden Hall), and the Radio Kulturhaus of the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation — making it the first orchestra in the United Arab Emirates to perform on these storied stages.
The tour, organised with support from Dubai Culture and the Dubai Cultural Grant, saw the Dubai National Youth Orchestra and its affiliated Strings Orchestra participate in the 18th edition of the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival, held under the patronage of His Excellency Dr Alexander Van der Bellen, President of the Republic of Austria, and under the supervision of the Austrian Commission for UNESCO. The orchestras gave the world premiere of the composition "Threads of Light" by Emirati composer Ihab Darwish, founder and president of the Emirates Music Association — a work inspired by the values of unity, hope, and the collective voice of youth — as part of the festival's opening concert. The composition embodied music's power to highlight local creative presence, express Emirati identity in a universal language, and serve as a bridge of connection between peoples.
In the same context, the Strings Orchestra affiliated with the Dubai National Youth Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Jonathan Barritt and Maestro Eva Grasbeck, achieved a notable distinction by winning third place with a rating of "Success with Excellence" in the main international competition of the Summa Cum Laude Festival.
This result came after competing against a distinguished selection of youth orchestras from around the world before an international jury on the stage of the Musikverein (Golden Hall), under the supervision of the festival's artistic director Saul Zaks.
The tour also included participation by orchestra members in a number of training sessions and workshops with Maestro Saul Zaks and Maestro Alexander Grande, giving them the opportunity to develop their skills and network with leading musicians from around the world — in keeping with Dubai Culture's commitments to nurturing emerging talent and enabling them to develop their capabilities.
The authority's delegation and orchestra members also explored the artistic experience of Vienna through a cultural and educational programme that included visits to some of the city's most prominent cultural, historical, and heritage sites, among them the Haus der Musik and the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
They also visited the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where they participated in the "String Music Lab".
Shaimaa Rashid Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Arts, Design and Literature sector at Dubai Culture, said that what the Dubai National Youth Orchestra achieved during its Vienna tour embodies Dubai Culture's commitment to supporting the music sector, empowering local talent, and helping them reach the world's most prominent platforms.
She said: "We take pride in the great achievement the orchestra has accomplished, which reflects the level of distinction of Emirati talent, confirming that sustained investment in music education and capacity building produces a generation capable of representing the country with full competence on the international stage.
This tour also reflects Dubai Culture's commitment to harnessing the arts as a bridge for cultural dialogue and a field for strengthening cooperation with international institutions and creative centres, opening new horizons for the exchange of expertise and the launch of joint initiatives, and providing distinctive opportunities for Emirati creatives to refine their talents through exposure to leading global experiences — thereby enhancing the emirate's presence on the world map."
For her part, Amira Fouad, Executive Director and Artistic Director of the Dubai National Youth Orchestra, expressed thanks and appreciation to Dubai Culture and the Summa Cum Laude Festival for their continued support. She noted that the orchestra's visit to Vienna and its performances at the Musikverein (Golden Hall), the Wiener Konzerthaus, and the Radio Kulturhaus — as the first orchestra from the United Arab Emirates to achieve this — represents an exceptional moment that will remain firmly etched in memory.
She said: "This tour revealed the potential our youth possess and confirmed their ability to achieve global accomplishments when given support, trust, and the opportunities that enable them to develop their talents.
I am proud of the distinguished performances delivered by the musicians under the direction of Maestro Jonathan Barritt and Maestro Eva Grasbeck, which reflected the calibre of Emirati musical talent."
It is worth noting that the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival is held annually in July at the Wiener Konzerthaus and the Musikverein (Golden Hall), two of the most prominent classical music venues in Vienna.
The festival attracts young musical talent from around the world to the Austrian capital to perform in an inspiring international environment that allows young musicians to express their creativity through the language of music and foster cultural exchange — contributing to the building of bridges of communication between peoples and cultures.