Applications Open for Fully Funded Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi

Applications are open for Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi, a fully funded music academy set to launch in January 2027 under the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi.

The first cohort will include 100 children aged six to nine, with tuition and musical instruments provided free of charge. The curriculum will cover both Western classical music and Arabic musical traditions.

The academy will be based in Mina Zayed in a building designed by the late architect Frank Gehry. Students will attend group lessons four times a week after school, alongside sessions on two Saturdays each month.

Teaching will centre on ensemble playing, with additional groups for more advanced young musicians planned during the academy’s first year.

The venue will also host public performances, masterclasses and community events. Inspired by youth orchestra programmes such as Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, the initiative is designed to widen access to music education while developing young musicians across both Western and Arabic traditions.