Katara hosts auditions for Qatar talent to perform alongside Music Celebrity in the Middle East’s only open air Amphitheatre Doha, November 21st, 2012: Katara, the Cultural Village is proud to announce the forthcoming concert of the British singer-songwriter, Sami Yusuf; one of the most famous artists who influenced and revived spiritual music. The concert will take place at Katara’s Amphitheatre on Thursday 6th December at 8:00pm. Ahead of the concert, Katara will host auditions for young talented singers and instrumentalists who will be given the chance to perform their solo song during the concert. Auditions will take place on Saturday 1st December from 10:00am until 5:00pm at the Opera House, building 16, Katara, participants can sign up via Katara’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/KataraQatar. Sami Yusuf is a British singer-songwriter, composer, producer and an accomplished musician. Endowed with a strong cultural affiliation to music; privileged with a musical background and having studied music with several renowned composers from one of the world's most prestigious music institutes – the Royal Academy of Music in London, Sami learned to play several musical instruments. At a very young age, Sami was playing the piano, violin, tar, tombak, santour, daf, tabla and oud. Yusuf’s support of humanity to reach out those in need through his music has earned him a massive following in the Middle East, North African nations and South-East Asia. He is also a partner working closely with a United Nations sponsored charity and was recently appointed as the first global ambassador of Silatech, a Qatar-based initiative promoting entrepreneurial skills and open access to capital and markets for large scale job creation in the MENA region. Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara said: “It is a great honour to have Sami Yusuf perform at Katara’s Amphitheatre; his music represents all that Katara stands for, bringing together cultures, unified by the same passion. His music carries a message of peace, and his ability to communicate that through several languages is admirable. This event is a testimony of Katara’s commitment to building cultural bridges by providing a platform for aspiring artists and world class performers. This special event welcomes everyone of all cultures and faiths, and contributes to the overall mission to educate and entertain.” Ahmed Salim, Producer and Director of ETM International, the record label that represents Sami Yusuf, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Katara and create a spectacular music concert that promises to take audiences on an unforgettable and inspirational spiritual journey. Sami Yusuf’s message of peace and love is universal and we hope it will inspire a new generation of artists. I am confident that we will find talented singers and instrumentalists in Qatar who will have the opportunity to showcase their skills at the concert with Sami Yusuf. I encourage musicians to come forward and sign up for the casting day via Katara’s Facebook page.” Having played across four continents, packing prestigious venues such as Wembley Arena in London, Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and The Velodrome in Cape Town, South Africa, Sami Yusuf is a house hold name across the Muslim world. His shows and performances are grand and highly personalized, complete with music in English, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Urdu, Azeri and Malay and performance on a multitude of both classical and ethnic instruments. Tickets are available at the Virgin Megastore during store operating hours (from 9:30am – 12midnight) at Landmark and Villagio. They can also be purchased online at www.virginmegastore.me. ILQ NEWS

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar