![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KTL2BEHKUJGWDGXHROD7RTATUQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=60e3c700a5105315aad4cd1fbfa2f23b9441b9ff45513d6a33000cb54b6786a8&width=400&height=225)
Elham Al Marzooqi, from the UAE, on cello.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SVX57RD66FAXNHSIYUGWQNDMGY.jpg?smart=true&auth=542ca297f2c5e05af551ad2aee3daf620dddcf795294c02e9647bd4c566efa8a&width=400&height=225)
Reemaz Oqbi (C), from Saudi Arabia, on flute.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2KSN5SBAWVGTFCATRLHCJDPPGQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=91502a3291e575e75223e0da352a68f2595591e03d90867d887835bbe690c070&width=400&height=225)
Noura Sulaiman, spokeswoman for the Firdaus Orchestra during rehearsals at the Gems Wellington International School in Dubai. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BRC5WMLZ5ZG23DGDYJGLCCCS74.jpg?smart=true&auth=837a45b67b73aa3c1a3d40b07ef61db19727ae478e23dc73636d39f5903c8a5f&width=400&height=225)
Practice makes perfect.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WYPIBTB3O5GYFFVGHRAPHT6UYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cd691227f41845beaeec3215367c753c266aced6b471b6a2243ba3a48e690126&width=400&height=225)
Nerissa Lobo playing the piano as the musicians tune up.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GWZLVYENDBEXLCPVUOCPA6V3NY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5074be68db4699a61cbff2b900fcb3bcc6384c866bf5997c6939870da4f43ff6&width=400&height=225)
The percussion section of the Firdaus Orchestra.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4R3HOJRQSJGPRE4Q7YAB7JUEVA.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee8c7c4bca1acfa9a94d9d9fbc8dbf9f20d24b79d16f75b18d194d9e4b273095&width=400&height=225)
Yasmina Sabbah, the conductor who comes from Lebanon.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DPY6JZEQNJA4VFXZM2LCZ3FZ4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=43a114ff8ae258d447a1e7064d5f1b9a5668a77c1bba4a5fd506a1b6377a3b47&width=400&height=225)
AR Rahman, an award-winning composer, will premiere original music.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VEDEC4KK4ZAEZOYSLVR2WMZHCI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f0463885a255ba39918de5ae0c7390b9c3b19ad0202726a4b5a83c5302786bba&width=400&height=225)
Elham Marzooqi (C) from UAE playing cello during the rehearsing of Firdaus Orchestra at the Gems Wellington school in Dubai.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/REEYOSYJPNH6NB7QLWO6DRMKSQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf7a7b0bb96fbe94e4a696a3a670f95a6a222600c9716a683f8bf8d119cc768a&width=400&height=225)
Jo Cathrine (C) playing bassoon.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GE2AYLKMQZB65P5PTWFVUR5ZME.jpg?smart=true&auth=2fe48745b5eec5f48509b006d387f2a82d733fe09cb6ad7ff4298cb6d1524321&width=400&height=225)
Firdaus Orchestra is an all-women ensemble featuring 23 nationalities.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5ARWZ2MRUZAF3PAFZVQONZFQRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1eb3a00e7cb9de0b2c4172fcc53a0d57adcbab9b5dfc851267d2abbf3031c20d&width=400&height=225)
Hanan Halwany at the rehearsal.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QAWIN6NAOVBLDLNFR6IMISEUD4.jpg?smart=true&auth=46d85791d9bb5066c694d2cbbcf4504d8cc4b14834506c4d4d44950526375906&width=400&height=225)
AR Rahman has said of the orchestra: ‘I’m proud to say that the Firdaus Orchestra is a world-class collective of musicians.’
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KTL2BEHKUJGWDGXHROD7RTATUQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=60e3c700a5105315aad4cd1fbfa2f23b9441b9ff45513d6a33000cb54b6786a8&width=400&height=225)
Elham Al Marzooqi, from the UAE, on cello.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SVX57RD66FAXNHSIYUGWQNDMGY.jpg?smart=true&auth=542ca297f2c5e05af551ad2aee3daf620dddcf795294c02e9647bd4c566efa8a&width=400&height=225)
Reemaz Oqbi (C), from Saudi Arabia, on flute.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2KSN5SBAWVGTFCATRLHCJDPPGQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=91502a3291e575e75223e0da352a68f2595591e03d90867d887835bbe690c070&width=400&height=225)
Noura Sulaiman, spokeswoman for the Firdaus Orchestra during rehearsals at the Gems Wellington International School in Dubai. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BRC5WMLZ5ZG23DGDYJGLCCCS74.jpg?smart=true&auth=837a45b67b73aa3c1a3d40b07ef61db19727ae478e23dc73636d39f5903c8a5f&width=400&height=225)
Practice makes perfect.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WYPIBTB3O5GYFFVGHRAPHT6UYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cd691227f41845beaeec3215367c753c266aced6b471b6a2243ba3a48e690126&width=400&height=225)
Nerissa Lobo playing the piano as the musicians tune up.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GWZLVYENDBEXLCPVUOCPA6V3NY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5074be68db4699a61cbff2b900fcb3bcc6384c866bf5997c6939870da4f43ff6&width=400&height=225)
The percussion section of the Firdaus Orchestra.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4R3HOJRQSJGPRE4Q7YAB7JUEVA.jpg?smart=true&auth=ee8c7c4bca1acfa9a94d9d9fbc8dbf9f20d24b79d16f75b18d194d9e4b273095&width=400&height=225)
Yasmina Sabbah, the conductor who comes from Lebanon.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DPY6JZEQNJA4VFXZM2LCZ3FZ4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=43a114ff8ae258d447a1e7064d5f1b9a5668a77c1bba4a5fd506a1b6377a3b47&width=400&height=225)
AR Rahman, an award-winning composer, will premiere original music.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VEDEC4KK4ZAEZOYSLVR2WMZHCI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f0463885a255ba39918de5ae0c7390b9c3b19ad0202726a4b5a83c5302786bba&width=400&height=225)
Elham Marzooqi (C) from UAE playing cello during the rehearsing of Firdaus Orchestra at the Gems Wellington school in Dubai.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/REEYOSYJPNH6NB7QLWO6DRMKSQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=cf7a7b0bb96fbe94e4a696a3a670f95a6a222600c9716a683f8bf8d119cc768a&width=400&height=225)
Jo Cathrine (C) playing bassoon.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GE2AYLKMQZB65P5PTWFVUR5ZME.jpg?smart=true&auth=2fe48745b5eec5f48509b006d387f2a82d733fe09cb6ad7ff4298cb6d1524321&width=400&height=225)
Firdaus Orchestra is an all-women ensemble featuring 23 nationalities.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5ARWZ2MRUZAF3PAFZVQONZFQRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1eb3a00e7cb9de0b2c4172fcc53a0d57adcbab9b5dfc851267d2abbf3031c20d&width=400&height=225)
Hanan Halwany at the rehearsal.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QAWIN6NAOVBLDLNFR6IMISEUD4.jpg?smart=true&auth=46d85791d9bb5066c694d2cbbcf4504d8cc4b14834506c4d4d44950526375906&width=400&height=225)
AR Rahman has said of the orchestra: ‘I’m proud to say that the Firdaus Orchestra is a world-class collective of musicians.’
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KTL2BEHKUJGWDGXHROD7RTATUQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=60e3c700a5105315aad4cd1fbfa2f23b9441b9ff45513d6a33000cb54b6786a8&width=400&height=225)
Elham Al Marzooqi, from the UAE, on cello.
Inside AR Rahman’s extraordinary all-women orchestra at Expo 2020 Dubai
Exclusive: The 50-strong ensemble have a message to young girls that they too have a shot at a career in music
![Ramola Talwar Badam](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5ef0cfa3-a931-4bee-a429-a6e926cfab98.png?smart=true&auth=8bd0c965d9bb14cf66195518e8cc461c939674357be28fde76d5e3597d39b95d&width=70&height=70)
Ramola Talwar Badam
23 October, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic