From German musician Johan Bach to musician Ludwig van Beethoven, Iraqi children are learning how to play classical music at the Basra Youth Symphony Orchestra.
The Basra Orchestra was founded in 2015 and says it aims to fill the gap in classical music groups.
It also hopes to continue in the footsteps to preserve the city's long-standing musical traditions.
"We started with the group playing stage ... and they (the band members) were in a new space world, surprised until they adapted more ... We started with very simple exercises ... once, popular songs ... once, birthday songs ... to an evolution," said the music teacher at the orchestra, Ali Qasim. Performance is accelerating, and praise be to God, we have started choosing international parts, choosing pieces that have more distribution, and we also choose parts with more vitality. "
The youth symphony orchestra consists of 65 children, 40 of whom are skilled in playing music to the extent that they are able to perform in festivals, according to Kassem.
For a long time, music was an important part of the cultural traditions in Iraq.
But many of the most prominent musical talents have fled conflict and violence.
"Since I was Talfa, I love to play music ... I love instruments ... I fulfilled this dream and entered the youth orchestra, and currently I am a jellist," said Shamayl Badr.
Hussein Hussam, a member of the band, said, "I love music and I watch it on TV and YouTube ... and since I came to the orchestra, I saw musical instruments and I liked the clarinet (flute), and at first I did not know how to read the notes, and I learned about the note, and now I practice it at home. ".
While many children have their instruments, the Basra Orchestra is still missing some essential elements.
"To Tchaikovsky, we presented nearly 3 works ... to Beethoven. We presented almost two works ... We presented works that suit the capabilities of our musicians and suit the type of instruments the band has," Qasim said.
He added, "In order to form an orchestra and a complete group, we lack wind instruments ... the bassers in general ... we lack the remaining wooden pneumatic machines ... we work on it (we are dealing with this situation) continuously, and if it is in the near and near future, this will be available and there until we have a full orchestra." .