On Thursday evening the conference was opened by a performance of the ensemble Derech-as-salam or Tariq Hashalom, which means "The way of peace" in Arabic and Hebrew, respectively. The group of four Palestinian and Israeli musicians plays and sings traditional Arabic music, and original songs in Hebrew and Arabic. The Palestinian members of the group had to get a permit in order to enter Jerusalem for this performance. On an everyday basis, however, it is very difficult to organise rehearsals and concerts across borders.

Find more information on the ensemble's homepage www.tariqmusic.com.

The Band's Visit
The movie "The Band's Visit" from the Israeli director Eran Kolirin was screened on Friday night. The movie was well chosen within the conference setting. 
The story is about a small Egyptian Police band that arrived in Israel to play at an initiation ceremony. Due to bureaucracy and bad luck, they were left stranded at the airport. They tried to manage on their own, only to find themselves in a desolate, almost forgotten, small Israeli town, somewhere in the heart of the desert. How they deal with the situation and how they accept the help of the local people only reluctantly is told in a melanchloy and comic way, at the same time.

Find more information on the movie's homepage www.thebandsvisit.com.

The Magnificat Institute
The visit of the Magnificat Institute was part of one of the city tours which were arranged during the conference. The Magnificat Institute is a music school in Jerusalem that was established in 1995 by decision of the Chapter of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. By promoting the study of music it wants to serve as both: a place for dialogue and peaceful coexistance that permits human and social development, and a place for the direction and professional preparation of music students to a high standard in the fields of teaching and performance.
The Magnificat Institute is open for teachers, students, auxiliary personnel and musicians without discrimination of language, country, race or religion. Today the school has 200 students receiving tuition from 18 teachers: among them are Israelis, Palestinians and Armenians, of Jewish, Christian and Islamic faith.
Hania Souda Sabbara, director of the institute, and Father Armando Pierucci welcomed the visitors in the old monestry buliding. They demonstrated sheet music, where the institute transformed Arab music into Western music notation by mirroring the score. The visit was framed by a choral concert in the Catholic church and several solo performances by students in the institute's concert hall.

Find more information at www.custodia.org/magnificat/.