Ensemble Zohra with tutors after recording of The Rosegarden of Light. Kabul, 2015

Ensemble Zohra is the girls’ ensemble at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music. Afghanistan is a country that has long struggled with women’s rights and education. In 2000 the female literacy rate was only 12%. This statistic, along with a ban on music that was not lifted until 2001, makes the accomplishment of the young ladies of Ensemble Zohra immediately recognizable. They have many odds against them: an
educational gap, a culture of violence against women, and cultural restrictions on music-making by women – and yet, against these odds, they come to school each day, and in August 2015 they recorded the interludes to Gulistan-e Nur: The Rosegarden of Light. These young women are leading a peaceful and beautiful fight for female education and equal rights within their country and, through projects such as ‘The Rosegarden of Light’, will become an inspiration to many others around the world. For these recordings, Ensemble Zohra was conducted by Camilo Jauregui, and joined by ANIM teachers Jennifer Moberg (violin), Kevin Bishop (violin), Holly Bishop (double-bass), Diana Mukhametzyanova (piano) and Samim Rafiqzada (tabla), with tutoring and administrative support from Allegra Boggess. 

Ensemble Zohra

Violins I
Marjan Fedayee
Jennifer Moberg (tutor)

Violins II
Sameha Ahmadi
Sunbul Nurestani
Marzia Anwary
Kevin Bishop (tutor)

Cellos
Nazira Wali
Fakria Azizi
Shaperai Hamidi
​Emma Ayres (tutor)
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Double-basses
Aziza Safi
Holly Bishop (tutor) 

Oboe
Madina Sarwari

Clarinet
Sahar Malikzai

Piano
Negin Khpolwak
Diana Mukhametzyanova (tutor)
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Percussion
Mozhgan Rezayee
Laila Nabizada
Samim Rafiqzada (tutor)
​Masjedi Sultanzai (tutor) 

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