In 1990, a small group of Palestinian musicians came together to look at the situation of music and music education in Palestine. There were many pockets of talent and activity in several genres, including folklore music, Arabic art music and Western classical music, but there was no central body channeling musical talent and strategizing for the future. Recognizing this, they decided to establish a music school. Over the next three years, the ground was prepared, and in 1993, the National Conservatory of Music was launched. Initially under the wing of Birzeit University’s board of trustees, the Conservatory set up its first branch in Ramallah. Forty students were enrolled alongside three part-time teachers, a secretary and a volunteer director.
