Where are we now?

A lot has happened last week. We'll try to summarize the best we can! First an important message, or rather, request. A while ago, Merlijn Twaalfhoven was interviewed for Mambapoint TV. He's now in the running for a cheque of 500 euro for his projects. This also includes Music for Gaza! Please click HERE and scroll to the bottom of the page and tick the box next to his name so he has a chance to win 500 euro...


Ten sponsors for De Nieuwe Nor!

We're very pleased to announce our search for ten sponsors has come to an end. SP Heerlen (socialist party, alderman and city council members) graciously signed up for the last two sponsor shares while another benefactor, who likes to remain anonymous, had already signed up as sponsor number eight. Heerlen Mondiaal, Vredesburo Heerlen, Simply Dutch Recordings, Erwin Musper, Dagblad de Limburger, Soundmaze, WWV Reschlo, ????? en SP Heerlen, many thanks for your participation and commitment to this cause!

Erwin Musper's column in Music Maker





(click image) Erwin Musper has been living and working in the United States for quite some time now. He writes about the music business and his work in a Dutch magazine for professionals in the music industry, Music Maker. In issue no 3, now available in stores, he writes about the Music for Gaza project.










Sponsors en volunteers needed for catering!

Yes. We're not done yet. We're still eager to find sponsors and volunteers who can help us pamper the Music for Gaza visitors and guests. De Nieuwe Nor allows us to use their kitchen, so we're looking for folks who can prepare luscious hors d'oeuvres, Palestinian specialities and other culinary treats. Interested to share your expertise? Mail us at musicforgaza(AT)gmail.com

Roskilde Festival Denmark donates 1 million kroner for a Hip Hop center in Gaza

There are more countries betting on music rather than politics. Here's a wonderful initiative in Denmark: the Roskilde Festival Charity Society will donate 1 million kroner (about 135.000 euro) to establish a Hip Hop center in Gaza.

"Music, and especially hip-hop, has been an important lifeline for young people in Gaza. The music and lyrics that are expressed through hip-hop, work as a valve that helps the young express their frustrations, hopes and dreams away from the everyday life which is constantly plagued by the oppression and violation of basic human rights,’ said the festival organisers in a statement."

Work in progress: March 22

(Febr 19 2009, Francesco Rigamonti) It's about time to keep you up to date again! As the picture shows, the music school has been completely destroyed. You can download the newsletter of the Qattan Center for the Child, a project of the A.M. Qattan Foundation (the organization behind the Gaza Music School).

Merlijn Twaalfhoven wrote a note about it:

Here's some news about the music school in Gaza. Everybody is working hard to get the school back open and it is to be expected that classes will resume in April. Our Music for Gaza project is no longer focussed on rebuilding the music school or the purchase of new instruments, we work towards a long term cooperation with the GMS when it comes to educating teachers and offering creative musical programs for groups of children in Gaza. More about this later, of course!

May 3 we have an event in Heerlen en May 5 we intend to give a show at the Liberation Festival, together with rappers from Gaza via Skype. We're not sure whether this will work, but we're hoping for it to succeed. We'd also like to be present at the other Liberation Festivals around the country with an info-stand. Do you have time to be a Music for Gaza representative? Just let me know! You can also become a member in Facebook or mail me with other ideas to help the children in Gaza.

Warmest regards,

Merlijn Twaalfhoven

THREE more sponsors to go!

We need THREE more sponsors for the concert hall. After Heerlen Mondiaal, Vredesburo Heerlen, Simply Dutch Recordings, Erwin Musper/Studio the Bamboo Room/Yeayeayeah Records the regional newspaper Dagblad De Limburger, the band Soundmaze en a company named wWv Reschlo (Maastricht) have agreed to become a sponsor. Thank you very much!

The bands who have committed themselves to come and perform are (in random order): Offroad, Black Mantis, Crimson Aces, Soundmaze, Exit 31, Freestroke, the Mondays and X-Libris (pending). DJ Noisebag will be the resident DJ this day.

Volunteers needed!

Besides sponsors for the concert hall, we could also do with some help in the kitchen. Who wants to take care of making snacks? We're also looking for vilunteers who can assist us with little chores and who can co-host this event. Interested? Send us an email with the subject 'volunteer May 3 Heerlen'.

Dialogue/discussion with discussion leader Max Arian

(photo: weblog Anja Meulenbelt) In cooperation with the Center for Diversity we're also organizing a dialogue or discussion with a panel and the audience. The renowned journalist Max Arian (De Groene Amsterdammer) and editor-in-chief De Brug (quarterly magazine for SIVMO, a committee supporting peace organizations in Israel) will host the event and lead the discussion or dialogue. Music for Gaza is focussed on the cultural and humanitarian aspects of the dynamics in Gaza and has no political agenda. But we can't escape reality, and as such recognize the need for people to share their thoughts, or express their concern for the Palestinian people.

That's why we offer an opportunity to exchange thoughts by bringing up a variety in themes. We all know people differ. Someone who is a christian approaches life from different angles than someone who is jewish or muslem, or not religious at all. What if we forget about the differences and try to look at what we all have in common? Everybody wants to be and have a friendly neighbour, everybody wants for their kids to do well in school. We all want to enjoy the company of family and friends, or go to work with pleasure. How can we deal with this the best we can, here in the Netherlands and how can we make a difference for the people in Gaza?

And what about Merlijn's vision, music as a weapon against extremism? How can you deal with this in a most succesful way and how do you yourself experience listening to or making music?

A.M. Qattan Foundation

The A.M. Qattan Foundation is the main force behind the Qattan Center for the Child and the Gaza Music School. In the past week we've been communicating with Omar Al-Qattan, (Board of Trustees) of the A.M. Qattan Foundation and Zaid Khalaf, executive director of the A.M. Foundation. Next time more about this organization and how Music for Gaza can contribute to resurrect music education in Gaza.

Gaza Music School Newsletter

(Click images) Rob van Diggelen is a friend of Merlijn Twaalfhoven and he asked Omar Al-Qattan, the founder of the Qattan Centre for the Child, a few questions:

“Can you tell us about the current state of affairs of the school? Is there a plan for a restart? Is there already help from outside?”


The Foundation took immediate action as soon as the fighting died down to find an alternative location for the school. This was soon achieved and we have now signed a new lease for a new place and are trying our best, with the available building materials in Gaza, to build partitions and prepare the space for the students. We hope to be finished and up and running as before by the end of March.










“How much money does the school need? Are musical instruments also welcome, and what about sheetmusic and other school-equipment?”



The School does not need money since we have had enormous help already which more than covered the costs of destruction and rebuilding, although good quality classical instruments are still most welcome, as is sheet music of all levels. Remember, we currently only have a nucleus of a school and want to grow the numbers of students and the range of instruments they can learn.







MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY, we have a severe lack of teachers so, should it become more possible for people to move in and out of the Gaza Strip, the biggest contribution that a musician can make at this stage is to go to Gaza for a period of time to teach and also to perform. The appeal should really be focussed on that, on breaking the siege and allowing the children opportunities they cannot otherwise have, especially as there is a terrible lack of good music teachers in Gaza. Why not also consider the possibility in the future of inviting one or two students to attend a music summer school and the really exceptional to attend music school in Holland?

What's new?

Tuesday, March 10. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. At 10 AM we're having a meeting about the dialogue we're planning for the sunday afternoon in Cultural Cafe De Nor. Three hours later, we're meeting up with Mariam Er-Rabhi from dancing school Future Vibes, to discuss the options for an outdoors location for her performance and free dancing lesson. Because if you talk about Urban & Street Dance, what better place for it than outdoors, right?

After those two meetings in Heerlen, we're off to Sittard, where we'll visit Printing company Pasklaar who have agreed to support us with printing material to promote this 4th Music for Gaza event. We're very pleased they will sponsor us this way!

Now that we mention it... sponsors...

We have FOUR sponsors so far: Heerlen Mondiaal, Vredesburo Heerlen, Simply Dutch Recordings and Erwin Musper (Studio the Bamboo Room/Yeayeayeah Records), renowned engineer/producer and also known from his success with the band Partner (they had a huge national hit song, Kayuta Hill).

So we're halfway there! But it's not enough yet, so we're still looking for at least SIX co-sponsors who will each contribute 85 euro to guarantee a cool Music for Gaza benefit concert.

The list of bands who are interested to come and play has been expanded with The Mondays, a jazzrock quintet guided by a respected (jazz) drummer and teacher from the Heerlen area, Geert Roelofs. Thank you Geert, for recommending them. Chances are, he'll show up himself with one of the other ensembles he has under his wing...

Musically, it can really become an interesting program... but a lot depends on whether we'll be able to find at least SIX more sponsors, so please spread the word!

Step by step forward

This is our second announcement whilst preparing for the 4th Music for Gaza CD-exchange event and benefit concert in Heerlen. Click here if this is your first visit to our blog!

Merlijn Twaalfhoven has sent a newletter from Foundation La Vie Sur Terre, the organization behind the Music for Gaza projects.

"Last January, together with a team of volunteers, I have organized three benefit evenings in Amsterdam, Tilburg and Utrecht. For an interview in Dutch on Mambopoint TV, please click here. The audience was invited to bring CD's they wanted to donate and exchange for others and there were performances of Susies Haarlok and The Tunes, to name just a couple.

We've managed to collect €5237,- so far and donations via our bank added another €759,85. I am very pleased with every donation, some even gave more than 100 euro. The Oecumenic Elementary School 'De As' from Heerenveen even collected more than 200 euro for our project. That is really commendable and very special!

Our goal was to collect money for a huge music project we wanted to establish for the children in Gaza, in cooperation with the local music school that had been severely affected in its operations during the recent bombardments. Music enables people to express their emotions. Especially in places where fear and tragedy dominate daily life, people lose the ability to communicate with an open heart. And specificly for the children, music can play an important role in dealing with the trauma of recent tragic events.

To make sure that the music project I intend to organize for the children of Gaza won't be a one-off occasion, but a long term project to help train local music teachers how to educate and help the children with music therapy programs for a number of years, I'm now aiming for a much higher figure! It's also only the beginning, so I will continue organizing a variety in events and activities."


To donate from outside the Netherlands:

IBAN: NL72INGB0009442547 BIC: INGBNL2A
La Vie sur Terre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
with description: “Donation Gaza”.

Please include your name and email address as well. That way we'll be able to keep you posted about the project and how your donation will be spent.


What's next?
So we're now focussed on the Music for Gaza event we plan for May 3. What can we tell you after a few days of intensive lobbying, sending emails, setting up meetings, telephone calls?

Info-stand May 5 Liberation Festival Limburg in Roermond
Ronald Kohnen, director of the festival organization COS Limburg (center for international cooperation) offered us a stand at the annual Liberation Festival in Roermond that attracts 25.000 visitors. They can't participate in our May 3 event, for obvious reasons, but support the Music for Gaza project wholeheartedly. That's why we'll proudly be present May 5, with a Music for Gaza info-stand. What can you expect? Besides a lot of CD's you can buy for 1 euro, there will be brochures and information about interesting and groundbreaking projects, as well as fine articles you can buy to support the music project. Do you plan to attend the Liberation festival in Roermond? Make sure you drop by our stand! Interested in becoming a Music for Gaza volunteer? Let us know by email: musicforgaza(AT)gmail.com

The Music for Gaza Lottery
As announced in our first blog, every visitor will get a free lottery ticket. We're busy arranging a cool collection of prizes and next to a bundle of Rowwen Heze CD's with signatures of the bandmembers, we've also had some results in the world of literature. Publisher Podium in Amsterdam (thanks again!) sent us three books, in Dutch, for our lottery. A book by Eva Ludemann, a journalist who wrote about her experiences in the Gaza Strip and two books by writer/former Middle East correspondent and Dutch television show "Zomergasten" host Joris Luyendijk. For collectors, we have a very nice booklet and promo copy of Madeleine Peyroux's album "Half the Perfect World.



We need sponsors!
We're also still looking for sponsors to help pay for the concert hall. We can proudly announce the first two sponsors have already come forward, one of our partner organizations, Vredesburo Heerlen and Heerlen Mondiaal. But we do need more funds to help put together a vibrant evening of music in De Nieuwe Nor!

What can sponsors expect in return?
Organizations en companies will be featured with logo and name on flyers and posters. This will also be visible at our info-stand at the Liberation Festival. And you will contribute to a magnificant goal, to help rebuild the music school in Gaza and help develop music projects and music therapy programming for Palestinian children. So please help Merlijn Twaalfhoven to realize his project and become a sponsor for 85 euro!

Among the bands who have shown an interest, Roy van den Boorn from Soundmaze spontaneously offered his help in approaching potential sponsors. DJ Noisebag also chipped in, so a big thumbs up for their efforts! Mariam Er-Rabhi of the Future Vubes Dance school has also been inviting a lot of musicians and people to support this Music for Gaza project.

Do you want to help realize the Music for Gaza music project in Heerlen? Then send us an email: musicforgaza(AT)gmail.com

We'll continue our work behind the scenes and hope we'll have some good news again the next time we'll be blogging here. See you then!

Music For Gaza in Heerlen!

Welcome to the international weblog of Music For Gaza, a project of composer-musician Merlijn Twaalfhoven. We're very busy preparing the 4th edition of the Music For Gaza project, a CD-exchange event and benefit concert. This time in the south of the Netherlands, the city of Heerlen.

Cultural Cafe De Nor will be hosting our project. In collaboration with the Center for Diversity and the Peace Agency Heerlen we'll give it our best shot to turn May 3 into a memorable day. We have 2 months to organize the event, so exciting times lie ahead!

What's our intention?

We need sponsors!
We're looking for minimal ten sponsors who will each donate 85 euro to help pay for the cost of the concert hall De Nieuwe Nor. We placed an ad on the website of SPL (Foundation Popmusic Limburg), made other inquiries and already have a number of bands, DJ's and volunteers who would like to participate in this event: Wild Bill & The Alabama Speed Steamers, Offroad, Black Mantis, Soundmaze, Crimson Aces, DJ Noisebag, Sagol 59 & the Corner Prophets (Israel), MC Big A (Lebanon/ Detroit USA) & Hanouneh (Sweden), Afrock & Da Sole (Tunesia), Funkmonster, Coral Egan (Montreal, Canada), Freestroke and the swinging soul/pop/funk formation X-Libris. "Rock, Funk & Hip Hop 4 Gaza" will definitely not clash with the rest of our multicultural program for the day, but we need sponsors first before these bands and artists can rock for a better world. In the cafe we'll be programming acoustic music.

Urban & Street Dance demonstration
Mariam Er-Rabhi, director of the new Future Vibes Dance school will not only perform on Sunday afternoon, she'll also be giving a FREE lesson for an hour, which is very nice for the young ones!

Share your story
We've had an interesting first meeting with the Center for Diversity. Cecile Weijs and Hanan Maazouzi offered some workable ideas. That's why this Music For Gaza event will also support global awareness, in a playful educational way. We'll be hosting a dialogue in which invited guests will participate and share their vision with others, listening to others. No debate, no discussion, but instead the art of a good old fashioned conversation!

Infostand and articles
Music For Gaza will also try to educate. Via an infostand, visitors can learn about various humanitarian and cultural projects, initiatives and organizations. This will range from combined Palestinian-Israeli peace movements to bio-dynamic farming and travelling exhibitions. With flyers, brochures and articles we'll bring the Palestinian-Arab, but also the Israeli-Jewish culture within reach.

Music of the Future
Although this project is specifically designed for the children in Gaza, we're not ruling out future collaboration with the Israeli town of Sderot where the residents have been enduring rocket attacks for the past eight years. Some good contacts have been established, based on awareness that the children in both Gaza and Sderot are victims of circumstance and will all benefit from an engaging, entertaining and therapeutic music project. Sderot is willing to reach out and even though it may not be possible right now, the Palestinian children are absolutely welcome in Sderot for a future music project!

Donate articles and items for the Music For Gaza Lottery!
We offer various entry fees to accommodate our visitors. Not everyone can donate at least 10 CD's, DVD's or LP's. That's why we came up with the following: FREE entry with at least 10CD's or 2 euro and 5 CD's or 4 euro without CD's. Every visitor will receive a ticket for our lottery and has a chance to win some nice prizes! And of course you can buy CD's, DVD's and LP's for at least 1 euro each.

Rowwen Heze has donated some of their CD's and singles and is the first regional band who supports this southern Music For Gaza event. If you are or know a Dutch artist, celebrity, musician, entrepreneur or generous southerner who would like to donate a nice item for our lottery, please don't hesitate to contact us at: musicforgaza@email.com

Food and Beverage
Culture and music also require food and beverage. The Center for Diversity has a very talented Multicultural Team de Cuisine. They will take care of preparing a variety in snacks and perhaps even a luscious dinner. Of course typical Palestinian ingredients and recipes won't be left out of this tasteful experience.

Music Schools in Limburg and Glaspaleis
An event on behalf of the music school in Gaza City wouldn't be complete without the participation of the music schools in the region of Heerlen, Parkstad and the province of Limburg. That's why we hope the school boards, teachers and students can participate in a Sunday concert, hosted in the hall of the beautiful Glaspaleis. Merlijn Twaalfhoven, creator of Music For Gaza, could also show some films there and tell us about his projects in Bethlehem and Jordan.

We need volunteers!
There's quite an ambitious plan for Heerlen, as you can see. But to make this day 100% complete and succesful, we're looking for volunteers who are willing to lend a helping hand. Can you agree with our goals and are you available on Sunday May 3, then send us an email explaining what it is you can do for us: musicforgaza@gmail.com

That's it for now, thank you for your time and stay tuned!

For more information, visit our website: http://www.musicforgaza.net