Photos: Checkpoints to counterpoint with the Palestine Youth Orchestra

Most international musicians would baulk at the notion of a two-day journey to final rehearsals past military checkpoints on alert for weapons smugglers but for the Palestine Youth Orchestra which had recently been touring Europe for three weeks and whose 76 members - crossing borders and religious divides - include Muslims, Druze and Christians, it was all just an occupational hazard.

Updated on: Aug 28, 2019 3:39 PM IST

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Musicians of the Palestine Youth Orchestra, Palestinian Sari Tarazi and Sytake Pas from Norway, are seen after their rehearsal at the Theater Orpheus in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. The Palestine Youth Orchestra, which was recently touring Europe for three weeks, includes 76 members crossing borders and religious divides, include Muslims, Druze and Christians (Eva Plevier / REUTERS)

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Ibrahim Masri of the Palestine Youth Orchestra is seen during a rehearsal at The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Most international musicians would baulk at the notion of a two-day journey to final rehearsals past military checkpoints on alert for weapons smugglers - but for 19-year-old viola player Ibrahim Masri it’s an occupational hazard. (Eva Plevier / REUTERS)

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A Palestinian member of the Palestine Youth Orchestra, inside a bus prior his journey to Amsterdam, close to the Qalandiya checkpoint near the West Bank city of Ramallah. The group’s members say they cannot gather the full orchestra at home because Israeli restrictions make it too hard to bring together members from Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem and refugees abroad. (Amir Cohen / REUTERS)

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The Palestine Youth Orchestra during a rehearsal at The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. “We can play but it is hard to travel,” said Ibrahim, who had to travel two days from Nablus in the West Bank through neighbouring Jordan to reach Oslo, where the tour convened. (Eva Plevier / REUTERS)

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Musician of the Palestine Youth Orchestra, Inigo Arnaiz from Spain preforms at a homeless shelter in Amsterdam. “When we go to Birzeit or to Ramallah we pass through checkpoints. And especially when you have your musical instrument and get searched, you get asked ‘What is this, why is this with you?’” Masri told Reuters TV. “It’s always a hassle when you move from one town to another in order to meet.” (Eva Plevier / REUTERS)

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The Palestine Youth Orchestra is seen during a rehearsal at The Concertgebouw the home venue of PYO conductor Vincent de Kort. He became involved with the orchestra after playing a concert in Jordan in 2017. “I think the music speaks for itself,” he said. “The message is beauty... is understanding. And music is the best language to do that because everyone in the world loves music.” (Eva Plevier / REUTERS)

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Musicians of the Palestine Youth Orchestra, play at the Amsterdam Museum. With a programme combining traditional classical and Arabic music, the orchestra played dates in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. (Eva Plevier / REUTERS)

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Members of the Palestine Youth Orchestra practice at backstage before their performance at the Theater Orpheus in Apeldoorn, Netherland. Aged 14 to 27, its players on this tour came from Jerusalem, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and inside Israel itself. There were also Palestinian musicians from Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, and some non-Palestinians. (REUTERS)

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The Palestine Youth Orchestra is seen during a final performance at The Concertgebouw. However, unlike on previous tours, nobody from Gaza made this trip, orchestra manager Zeina Khoury said. (Eva Plevier / REUTERS)

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Singer Nai Barghouti of the Palestine Youth Orchestra sings during their final performance in Amsterdam. She and her compatriots earned standing ovations at the finale in Amsterdam’s palatial Concertgebouw. (Eva Plevier / REUTERS)

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A crowd applauds and cheer at the orchestra’s final performance at Concertgebouw. An easier journey was had by Mostafa Saad, the 21-year-old concert master and lead violinist, whose two brothers and sister also play with the orchestra. (Eva Plevier / REUTERS)

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Mostafa Saad during the final performance at The Concertgebouw. None of the Saad brothers did army duty, despite coming from Israel’s Druze Arab community, whose men usually serve in the Israeli military. “Once you play with your friends in Palestine you can never imagine yourself holding a rifle instead of your instrument,” he said. (Eva plevier / REUTERS)

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Jude Qalawi of the Palestine Youth Orchestra embraces her friend after their last performance. “They’re always the best trips of my life. We get very close to each other, and we share unforgettable experiences,” cellist Qalawi had said as she boarded a bus in Jerusalem at the start of the tour. (REUTERS)