Classical music in the neighbourhoods - Zahia Ziouani at TEDxConcorde

Summary

Zahia Ziouani, an inspiring orchestra conductor, shares her journey from childhood to breaking barriers in classical music. Raised in a music-loving family, she faced early challenges but pursued her passion for conducting despite resistance. Under the guidance of legendary conductor Sergiu Celibidache, Zahia honed her skills and later founded the Divertimento Symphonic Orchestra, promoting diversity and inclusivity. Her orchestra blends classical with contemporary genres, providing access to classical music for underserved communities. Zahia’s dedication continues to challenge norms, proving that women can lead large orchestras and inspiring the next generation of musicians.

Takeaways

• 😀 Zahia, a female conductor, shares her unconventional journey into the world of classical music, emphasizing how she broke through gender barriers.
• 🎶 Zahia’s passion for classical music was sparked by her father, who attended a famous concert with legends like Rudolf Kempff, Yehudi Menuhin, and Rostropovich.
• 🎸 Zahia began her musical journey with the classical guitar and later took up the viola, eventually discovering her love for orchestral music.
• 📚 Zahia became deeply interested in conducting by studying conductor scores, which helped her understand the inner workings of an orchestra.
• 🎤 Despite being discouraged by others in the music world who believed women couldn’t conduct, Zahia secretly pursued her dream and continued to hone her skills.
• 🎻 Zahia met the famous conductor Sergiu Celibidache, who mentored her for 18 months, despite his initial skepticism about women in conducting.
• 👩‍🏫 Zahia was determined to prove that women could conduct large orchestras, focusing on classical repertoires like Beethoven and Ravel.
• 🎶 Zahia founded the Divertimento Symphonic Orchestra, aiming to create a diverse and inclusive musical environment with musicians from varied social and cultural backgrounds.
• 🌍 Zahia’s orchestra performed not only classical music but also blended genres such as jazz, pop, and North African traditional music, reaching diverse audiences.
• 🎭 Zahia worked to make classical music accessible to children from underrepresented communities, offering them opportunities to learn and experience orchestral music.
• 💡 Zahia’s efforts were particularly impactful in areas like Seine-Saint-Denis, where her work brought cultural enrichment and a sense of pride to young people, such as an 8-year-old violinist named Fayçal.

Q & A

How did the speaker's father influence her love for music?

The speaker's father developed a passion for classical music after attending a landmark concert in the 1960s, featuring famous musicians like Rudolf Kempff, Yehudi Menuhin, and Rostropovich. He passed this passion on to his family, which inspired the speaker's own love for classical music.

What challenges did the speaker face when she first wanted to pursue music?

When the speaker and her twin sister sought to enroll in music lessons, there was only one available spot. Instead of choosing between them, their mother enrolled their brother, and then taught the sisters at home by attending his classes and taking notes.

What instruments did the speaker play, and why did she choose them?

The speaker began with the classical guitar, a gift from Santa Claus, but later took up the viola to experience playing in an orchestra. The viola allowed her to discover the orchestra’s dynamics and fueled her interest in conducting.

How did the speaker start learning about conducting?

The speaker was drawn to conducting after seeing the conductor's score. She borrowed conductor scores from the library to understand how orchestral music was organized, and eventually decided to pursue conducting more seriously.

What was the speaker’s first significant encounter with a famous conductor?

The speaker met the renowned conductor Sergiu Celibidache, who became an important mentor. He recognized her potential and encouraged her to pursue conducting despite the gender-based challenges she faced in the field.

What did Sergiu Celibidache teach the speaker about conducting?

Celibidache taught the speaker how to become a skilled conductor, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and offering guidance on how to work with large orchestras. His mentorship lasted for 18 months before his passing.

What is the primary responsibility of an orchestra conductor?

An orchestra conductor's main responsibility is to create unity and coherence among musicians, ensuring they start and stop together. The conductor also balances the various instruments to create a harmonious performance, adapting to the acoustics of different venues.

How does the speaker’s orchestra, Divertimento Symphonic Orchestra, differ from other orchestras?

The Divertimento Symphonic Orchestra was created to promote diversity, particularly by providing women with a more prominent role in conducting and showcasing classical music alongside other genres like jazz, pop, and traditional music from North Africa.

Why did the speaker want to establish the Divertimento Symphonic Orchestra?

The speaker wanted to create an orchestra that could represent diverse backgrounds and provide opportunities for women in conducting. She also wanted to demonstrate that women were capable of conducting major symphonic works, breaking down traditional gender barriers in the music world.

What role does the Divertimento Symphonic Orchestra play in the community?

The orchestra is dedicated to outreach, working with children from disadvantaged neighborhoods to introduce them to classical music, orchestral instruments, and the power of music to bridge social divides. Their performances also bring classical music to diverse audiences in underrepresented areas.