Afghan Women Solidarity Concert Belfast - International Women's Day 2025
This is a working blog. Films in production and reflections will be added.
The event that took place on a peace line in Belfast UNESCO City of Music 8th March International Women's Day with the Ulster Orchestra and special guests, represented the greatest number of orchestral works by female artists & composers from Afghanistan ever presented together in a single orchestra concert.
Complimenting the concert was a fringe programme with businesses, schools, women in music and community organisations.
The concert and fringe programme was funded by Northern Ireland business community, philanthropic and public donations.
THE CONCERT
GUEST ARTISTS
Sonita Alizadeh, Elaha Soroor, Zarifa Asghari, Eva Kearney
SUPORTING ARTISTS
Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey (conductor), Nolan Donnelly, Darryl ‘Daz’ Forsythe, Al MacSween, Shahbaz Hussain, Saphwat Simab
Orchestra Players
Ioana Petcu-Colan, Beverley Scott, Ana Vandepeer. Claire Thatcher, Gongbo Jiang, Nicholas Rippon, Aisling Manning, Julia Doukakis, Philip Walton, Feargal Ó Dornáin, Thomas Isaac, Sarah Shephard, Helen Glynn, Paul Klein, Darren Moore, Wizz Bannan, Sam Staunton
PRESENTERS
Niamh Campbell
Amanda Ferguson
Fatima Sarwari
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Photos by Nicola McKee
Photos by Stuart Bailie
Photos by participants and audience
SCHOOLS EVENT AT ULIDIA COLLEGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WOMENED NI
Guests: Sonita Alizadeh, Amada St John, Eva Kearney, Nolan Donnelly
AFGHAN WOMEN IN BUSINESS AT ULSTER BANK
Guests: Sonita Alizadeh, Razieh Mirzaee and Fatima Mousavi
AFGHAN WOMEN IN BUSINESS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OH YEAH AND FREEMUSE
Guests: Sonita Alizadeh, Eva Kearney, Charlotte Dryden. Amanda St John, Kate Nicholson.
SONITA ALIZADEH AT 5TH ELEMENT
In partnership with Rio Ferdinand Foundation
INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY MARCH
NIGHT OUT AT HOLOHANS PANTRY
PARTNERS AND SPONSORS
