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By:
Florinda Abazi
- 22 January 2025 20:55
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The Franco-German project “MusiKOS” launched on Wednesday aims to support 100 children in the field of music within a year. “Supporting Musical Talent and Cultural Diversity: Empowering Kosovo’s Youth through Inclusive Music Education and Performance” does not stop at bringing out as many musical talents as possible but also extends to strengthening the ethnic diversity in the country.
The very name of the project – “MusiKOS” – has a harmonious sound, and in essence that is what it aims for. It does this through music. The French Institute of Kosovo, the Goethe Center Prishtina and the “Amadeus” music school have joined forces to make it concrete, and on Wednesday the launch of this project also coincided with a symbolic date: the 62nd anniversary of the Élysée Treaty, which marks the Franco-German reconciliation.
The project "Supporting Musical Talent and Cultural Diversity: Empowering Kosovo's Youth through Inclusive Musical Education and Performance" does not stop at bringing to light as many musical talents as possible but also expands to strengthening ethnic diversity in the country with a special emphasis on musical diversity.
In the Franco-German project, young Kosovars aged 6 to 17 will benefit from intensive classical music training.
The French Ambassador to Kosovo, Olivier Guérot, has praised this project, saying that it will preserve the country's musical heritage, through which the presence of ethnic diversity in Kosovo is best presented.
"Following the auditions that 'Amadeus' will launch with young musicians and choir singers across the country, especially those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, many selected talents will be able to benefit from individual and orchestral training throughout the year. Thanks to music that fosters understanding and strengthens community ties and social inclusion," said Ambassador Guérot. His collaborator in this project, the German Deputy Ambassador to Kosovo, Matthias Conrad, also linked the agreement between them to the concrete date related to the 1963 Élysée Treaty, which served to reconcile France and Germany after World War II.
"Today we celebrate the Élysée Treaty. And this treaty represents a long journey for Franco-German reconciliation. It was signed in 1963 and managed to turn two former adversaries into close allies and true friends. It turned hostility into partnership and friendship. And this proves that dialogue and cooperation can overcome even the deepest centuries-old divisions. The Élysée Treaty at that time paid special attention to youth. And, I am very proud and happy that in this way we can continue the project that we are launching today," said Deputy Ambassador Conrad.
Conrad also said that German-French cooperation should serve as inspiration for any nation that wants to create its own identity, especially its cultural one.
The expression and strengthening of talent in singing and playing musical instruments, according to the director of the "Amadeus" school, Hana Petrovci, will be made possible for 100 children in Kosovo through "MusiKOS".
"The project also envisages the incorporation of talented students, who may not have the opportunity to be exposed to much cultural and artistic environments, through which we will include these students in this project by giving them the opportunity to express their talent and in addition to it to develop their talent both in musical instruments, which they prefer, but also in singing both individually and in choral singing", said Petrovci. The "MusiKOS" project will last one year.
As the project is described in the press release, it has been selected to be funded by the Franco-German Cultural Fund, which “supports cultural cooperation initiatives between French and German diplomatic and cultural networks and their local partners in foreign countries.”
According to the announcement, "'MusiKOS' is also expected to celebrate the rich Franco-German musical heritage, offering mentorship and guidance from French and German musicians, who, together with professional Kosovar musicians, will offer lessons to young talents for a musical career, fostering a deep cultural exchange."
At Wednesday's ceremony, these two institutions pledged to join forces to bring other cultural projects and beyond to Kosovo.
