Young musicians from a school in Kabul, Afghanistan, rehearse for a Carnegie Hall concert with musicians from Scarsdale High School in Scarsdale, N.Y., on Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. The Afghan Youth Orchestra, many of whose members are not far removed from eking out a living on the streets of Kabul, is on the New York leg of a U.S. tour that melds Western classics with traditional Afghan music. About 50 players held a joint rehearsal Monday with 25 members of the Scarsdale High School orchestra, which meant that young musicians from a war-torn country where music was banned for several years by the Taliban were playing alongside those from one of New York's toniest suburbs. (AP Photo/Jim Fitzgerald)
February 11, 2013 - 11:34 PM
SCARSDALE, N.Y. - It's the perfect trip to America. A group of youngsters from Afghanistan is going ice skating, downing New York pizza — and performing at Carnegie Hall.
The Afghan Youth Orchestra is on the New York leg of a U.S. tour. Many of its members are not far removed from eking out a living on the streets of Kabul.
The orchestra held a joint rehearsal Monday with the Scarsdale High School orchestra. That meant that young musicians from a war-torn country where music was banned for several years were playing alongside those from one of New York's toniest suburbs.
The orchestra's leader says the co-operation is symbolic of Afghanistan's future.
On Tuesday's program at Carnegie are Western classics like Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" but incorporating Afghan instruments and rhythms.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013