On Monday 6 October the internationally recognised group of musicians will be performing at Sutton Grammar School.
The string quartet is made up of three brothers and one sister, from a Druze family from the village of Maghar in the Galilee in Israel:
Omar Sa’ad, viola; Mostafa Sa’ad, violin; Ghandi Sa’ad, violin; and Tibah Sa’ad, cello.
All four are students at the Beit Almusica Conservatory who have performed throughout Palestine and in many cities of Europe. In 2013 they played with Nigel Kennedy at the Proms in the Albert Hall.
The Quartet will play a selection of classical and Arabic music. The concert will be followed by a question and answer session with Omar Sa’ad, viola player and conscientious objector, who will speak about the story behind the Quartet.
As an Israeli citizen Omar, the oldest brother, was called up for military service, but he refused to take part in what he called ‘the occupation of his own people – the Palestinians’. Omar was sent to military prison, but eventually exempted from military service after refusing the draft seven times.
This is a rare opportunity to see the Galilee Quartet in this country – at one of only nine concerts on their short tour of England and Wales in 2014 – and hear their story.
The concert will take place at Sutton Grammar School on Monday 6 October, doors open 7pm for a 7.30 start. (Entrance off Greyhound Road, Sutton, SM1 4AN.) It is being organised by Sutton for Peace and Justice in association with Amnesty International.
There is no advance entry charge, donations will be taken on the night.
Attendees must reserve a place by email to [email protected] or by text message to 07931 786134.
For more information, see http://suttonforpeaceandjustice.wordpress.com