Young Bahraini sisters Haya and Layan Al Hamad are set to present their first international musical performance as part of an orchestra in Yaroslavl, Russia, on Monday, coinciding with Bahrain National Day.
The piano prodigies, aged 15 and 12 respectively, were noticed by renowned Bahraini maestro Waheed Al Khan and selected to play with the Yaroslavl Philharmonic Orchestra in the concert entitled ‘Spirit of Bahrain’ hosted by the famed conductor.
The Abdulrahman Kanoo International School students will stage two piano duets, accompanied by the orchestra – Waltz from Masquerade by Aram Khachaturian, and Libertango by Astor Piazzolla.
Layan will also perform a concertino in the A minor scale by Yuri Polunin – a solo on the piano, accompanied by the orchestra.
This milestone follows a series of global solo and duet acts by the duo, including at the United Nations Educational, and Scientific and Cultural Organisation headquarters in Paris last year, and the 20th Emirates Peace Music International Competition in Dubai this year where they bagged the first prize.
A fan of pop, rock and hard metal music genres, Layan is eagerly looking forward to the upcoming concert.
“It’s one of the biggest things we’ve done as pianists and while I’m excited, I’m nervous than I’ve ever been,” she told the GDN.
Her ‘partner in rhyme’ Haya, who loves playing compositions that alternate between calm, soothing tones and energetic melodies as they ‘tell a story’, said they were proud to represent their country.
Early retired Foreign Affairs Ministry counsellor Hind Fouad Kamal spotted a musical streak in her daughters when she observed them humming to classical tunes that would be played in their home and also identifying their composers.
“I realised their musical inclination before they did and registered them at a music school as I was keen on them pursuing it seriously,” Ms Kamal, who has also learned the piano for eight years, told the GDN, adding that her girls started when they were seven and four.
“For me it was more of a hobby and I regret not continuing learning music and so, I didn’t wish that for my daughters. They have been training under their teacher Olga Aoust, who is brilliant,” she added.
“The girls were exposed to music and art from a very early age. Since I was pregnant with both, I listened to classical music and ours is an artistic family – my father painted as a hobby and my home is a gallery of his artworks. My maternal uncle Hassan Kamal is a well-known poet,” she added.
Both Haya and Layan have acquired several Russian Music School certificates with distinction and are currently pursing grade seven of the Russian Music School certification and diploma.
Haya performing at the Unesco event in Paris
Layan performing at the Unesco event in Paris
Two years ago, the then Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities president Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa selected the prodigious pair and another pianist to perform solo for the Bahrain Summer opening event at the Bahrain Cultural Hall. Later that year, they represented Bahrain in the First Cultural Children’s forum in Moscow, Russia.
Since 2017, the creative talents have taken part in more than 50 piano competitions and concerts. They were looking for a bigger challenge to take their musical journey to the next level when they were spotted by maestro Waheed.
“When maestro Waheed contacted me, he said, ‘where were you hiding them, they are international-level children’. He wanted them to be part of his Bahrain National Day concert, which was a great opportunity,” Ms Kamal said.
Layan, left, and Haya at the UNESCO event last year
Maestro Waheed with Layan, left, and Haya
“I’m an early retired counsellor and my husband Abdulla Yousif Al Hamad is a Foreign Affairs Ministry counsellor and all our goals have been dedicated to Bahrain. Seeing our daughters represent the kingdom in Russia is a proud moment for us,” she added.
Ms Kamal has been hands-on with her children’s musical career, helping them juggle it with school. She is also grateful for the support the girls have received from their teachers and friends.
“They make it a point to practise for at least one or two hours daily as music isn’t just a hobby for them, it’s an education,” she explained.
Not one to rest on their past laurels, Haya and Layan, who are motorsport enthusiasts and McLaren fans, are also dreaming of playing at the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix.
melissa@gdnmedia.bh
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