Zohra Orchestra
The Zohra Orchestra, also known as the Afghan Women's Orchestra and Ensemble Zohra, is Afghanistan's first all-female orchestra, named after the music goddess in Persian writings. Founded in 2015, it has been in exile since the 2021 [Taliban offensive|2021 seizure of Kabul by the Taliban].
History
The Zohra Orchestra was formed in 2015 in Kabul by the Afghanistan [National Institute of Music] and its founder Dr Ahmad Sarmast. The institute was formed in 2008 with the goal of bringing a musical education to young Afghans in the wake of liberation from the Taliban, under whom women's rights in Afghanistan were severely curtailed.It is Afghanistan's first all-female orchestra, named after the music goddess in Persian writings, and also known as the Afghan Women's Orchestra and Ensemble Zohra.
Tours
The Zohra Orchestra has completed several high-profile tours since 2017. They have performed at the World Economic Forum and toured the United Kingdom in 2019, visiting the British Museum in London and the University of Oxford.In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Afghan independence in 2019, the Zohra Orchestra visited Australia on tour. On 12 and 14 October 2019, the orchestra performed concerts in Sydney and Melbourne. The first was held at Monash University, and the second at Sydney Opera House with over 1,500 guests in attendance. The event was co-organised by the Embassy of [Afghanistan, Canberra|Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan] and the Australian Government to concurrently celebrate 50 years of official diplomatic relations between the two countries.