Young Afghan musicians in NY for date at Carnegie
SCARSDALE, N.Y. (AP) - It's the perfect trip to America. A group of youngsters from Afghanistan is going ice skating, downing New York pizza - and performing at Carnegie Hall.
The Afghan Youth Orchestra is on the New York leg of a U.S. tour. Many of its members are not far removed from eking out a living on the streets of Kabul.
The orchestra held a joint rehearsal Monday with the Scarsdale High School orchestra. That meant that young musicians from a war-torn country where music was banned for several years were playing alongside those from one of New York's toniest suburbs.
The orchestra's leader says the cooperation is symbolic of Afghanistan's future.
On Tuesday's program at Carnegie are Western classics like Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" but incorporating Afghan instruments and rhythms.