KUWAIT: Investing in the education of children by instilling a strong foundation in music skills from a young age can cultivate their talents and pave the way towards successful careers in music. According to Richard Bushman, emphasizing the importance of music education can lead to a future where the orchestra predominantly comprises Kuwaiti musicians, showcasing the talent and diversity within the local music scene. Under Richard Bushman’s guidance, Ahmadi Music Group held a charity youth orchestra located at the Theatre of the American University of Kuwait in aid of KACCH and Bayt Abdullah.

Bushman told the Kuwait Times that the Ahmadi Music Group, established in 1955, is Kuwait’s oldest cultural organization, bringing 65 junior violin players to the orchestra. According to Bushman, this charity orchestra was motivated by the idea of two senior students who wanted to work on a charitable music project by partnering with Beit Abdullah. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to them.

Bushman Joins the Youth Orchestra on the stage.

Richard Bushman

Richard extended his gratitude to AUK for providing the theater free of charge and acknowledged the support received from the English School in Salmiya and Bayan Bilingual School, from which many participating students in this charity orchestra came. Ahmadi Music Group’s program focuses on both teaching and performance, which has resulted in successful concerts this year.

Bushman further elaborated to the Kuwait Times about the long-term vision: “The hardest thing in a music program is finding enough really good beginners every year. So, the Ahmadi teaching group has two sides: teaching and performing. We have done two beautiful concerts on the stage this year. Our goal is that in twenty years, our orchestra will be 80 percent Kuwaiti because these children will grow up and push us out.

That’s what we expect, and that’s how we work. They will become the orchestra. That’s what we want for the children—to come and play with the adults sometimes to gain experience from working with adult professionals. This is our goal in Kuwait: to start with hundreds of beginners in order to find the ones who will remain in the end. There is not only one path through music; everyone is welcome to join.”