Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra
# Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra

The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, was founded in 2007 by Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, the then Emir of Qatar's consort. The orchestra performs both Western and Middle Eastern works, encouraging the enjoyment and creation of such music by the people of Qatar and the region.

## History

Kurt Meister, the former managing director of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, was invited by Sheikha Mozah to create an orchestra of international standard and recruited players from over 30 countries. In 2008, Egyptian conductor Nader Abbassi was appointed musical director and Lebanese musician Marcel Khalife became the artistic director and composer-in-residence.

The QPO's inaugural concert was held in Doha on 30 October 2008, conducted by Lorin Maazel. The 101-player orchestra's home is now the Opera House at the Katara Cultural Village. In advancing its role in the promotion of Middle East composers, the orchestra now has nearly forty such works in its repertoire. In addition to its Qatar season, the orchestra has also toured internationally, in the Middle East (Syria), Europe (UK, France, Austria, Italy, Russia), Asia (China) and the United States (New York and Washington).

On 8 September 2014, during a European tour, the orchestra's musical director Han-na Chang resigned, citing "persistent administrative difficulties and irreconcilable artistic differences".

## Artistic and musical directors

* Marcel Khalife, artistic director 2008–2010
* Nader Abbassi, musical director 2008–2011
* Michalis Economou, musical director 2011–2013
* Han-na Chang, musical director 2013–2014

## Guest conductors

List of guest conductors who have conducted the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra:

* Lorin Maazel
* Dmitri Kitayenko
* Gianluigi Gelmetti
* Andreas Weiser
* Marc Minkowski
* James Gaffigan
* David Afkham
* Philippe Auguin
* Bob Ross
* Pablo Mielgo
* Alastair Willis
* James Shearman
