Jerusalem’s Magnificat Institute: a laboratory of coexistence in the Holy Land

By Vatican News

Hailing from the war-torn Holy Land an Orchestra that aims to be a laboratory of coexistence, performs a concert in Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere on Thursday evening.

In collaboration with the Sant’Egidio Community, the ensemble of young Jewish, Christian and Muslim musicians, bring their witness of harmony at a time when much turmoil and disaccord surrounds the Holy City of Jerusalem.

Vatican Media’s Roberto Cetera invited members of the Magnificat Institute – the Music School of the Custody of the Holy Land – to talk to us at Vatican Radio on the afternoon of the concert.

As its director, Fr. Alberto Pari, explains,  it provides high academic education in music for the local children of Jerusalem irrespective of gender, language, race, or religion.

The school was created over 25 ago inspired by Fr. Armando Pierucci who wanted to teach poor Christian Palestinian children the basics of music by teaching them how to sing. Over the years it has developed into a conservatory with 220 students, mostly Christians, but also Muslim and Jewish, and 33 teachers for the most part Jewish, thus becoming “a laboratory of coexistence,” where students bring their diverse cultures and experiences to enrich each other and those who attend their performances.