ＶＯＡ标准英语２０１３－－Afghan Youth Orchestra Prepares to Play US Venues

 

Afghan Youth Orchestra Prepares to Play US Venues²

The Afghanistan Youth Orchestra performed for the Afghan community in Alexandria, Virginia, where the venue¹ was intimate, the audience small.

But within days, these Afghan musicians will play in two famous concert halls: the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and Carnegie Hall in New York.

Ahmad Sarmast, who founded the orchestra, says his group is ready to play on the world’s biggest stages.

“Our young kids are getting this opportunity in the very, very first days of their career as musicians," he said. "Everyone is extremely excited, and they are very much looking forward to this performance."

The group travelled from Kabul to the United States on a tour funded largely by the U.S. embassy in Kabul. 

When the Taliban took power in 1996, it banned music entirely³. 

But since 2010, Sarmast has kept the small National Institute of Music in Kabul running. The orchestra grew out of the school. 

“The entire idea of this trip, and the project from the beginning, was to show a different face of Afghanistan; to change the perception of Afghanistan," he said.

The musicians are between the ages of 10 and 22 and most are orphans⁴ or street children. The ensemble⁵ includes girls, who under the Taliban were not allowed to be educated after the age of eight.

Nazira, a cellist⁶, says she's excited to play in America.

“This year is very good for us because we are going to perform in concerts in the U.S.," she said. "We are at the music school from 8:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. and studying.”

On Monday, the orchestra was welcomed to Washington by Secretary of State John Kerry.

“So we’re happy to welcome you here as ambassadors of peace,” he said.

Now, the musicians are rehearsing for their big debut⁷ at the Kennedy Center. Then it’s on to New York and Carnegie Hall, before returning to Kabul and a life full of music. 

1 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

2 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

3 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

4 orphans   

孤儿( orphan的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The poor orphans were kept on short commons. 贫苦的孤儿们吃不饱饭。
• Their uncle was declared guardian to the orphans. 这些孤儿的叔父成为他们的监护人。

5 ensemble   

n.合奏(唱)组；全套服装；整体，总效果

参考例句：

• We should consider the buildings as an ensemble.我们应把那些建筑物视作一个整体。
• It is ensemble music for up to about ten players,with one player to a part.它是最多十人演奏的合奏音乐，每人担任一部分。

6 cellist   

n.大提琴手

参考例句：

• The cellist's bowing was very sensitive . 那位大提琴手的弓法十分细腻。 来自辞典例句
• World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma founded The Silk Road Project in 1998. 世界闻名的大提琴家马友友于1998年创建了丝路工程。 来自互联网

7 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。