Barenboim-Said Akademie

Close friends Daniel Barenboim and Edward W. Said founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in Weimar, Germany, in 1999 with a mission to unite young Arab and Israeli musicians.

The two men were convinced that peace in the Middle East could not be achieved by military means, and they dedicated themselves to the search for alternative approaches to a political solution.

The Barenboim-Said Akademie opened in 2015 as a robust continuation of the spirit and mission of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Named after the Orchestra’s founders and leading lights, with a curriculum likewise inspired by their initiative, the Barenboim-Said Akademie is committed to educating a new generation of musicians.