YMOUAE – Runner Up – Erik Byurkland
08 - February , 2025
Karen Martinez
Executive Assistant to the Artistic Director
Karen Martinez joined the National Youth Orchestras and Choirs (NYO/NYC) in August 2023 and serves as Executive Assistant to Artistic Director Amira Fouad. She supports the day-to-day operations of NYO and NYC, acting as the primary liaison for the Artistic Director. Her role spans communications, scheduling, rehearsals, events, and performances, as well as maintaining the NYO app and supporting administrative and financial processes. Karen is often the first point of contact for families, faculty, and partners, and plays a key role in ensuring rehearsals, concerts, and events run smoothly behind the scenes.
Karen plays an integral role in the planning and delivery of NYO and NYC performances both locally and internationally. She managed the travel logistics, organisation, and accounting for the NYO’s international tour to New York, where the orchestra performed at Carnegie Hall in June 2025, and continues to oversee logistics for future overseas performances. Before joining NYO, Karen worked in travel and aviation, including as a Cabin Supervisor with Emirates Airline, followed by a role as a personal assistant within a Dubai-based family office. She particularly enjoys seeing the commitment and talent of the young musicians, the joy their performances bring to audiences, and working alongside the dedicated faculty and supportive team that make NYO and NYC possible.
Magdalena Wajdzik
Piano, National Youth Choir
Magdalena Wajdzik’s career has proven to be a versatile string of appearances as a solo pianist and chamber musician. She has performed with various ensembles and symphonic orchestras in the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Poland, Hungary, and the United States. Fuelling her creative energy and passion for contemporary music, she regularly performs new compositions by established and emerging composers. Some exciting collaborations included the Frontiers+Festival, the Park Lane Group Series and the Southbank Centre (UK, as well as the Atlantic Music Festival (USA).
Magdalena spent most of her time in the United Kingdom, studying at Birmingham Conservatoire with Margaret Fingerhut, Prof.Malcolm Wilson and Victor Sangiorgio. Before arriving in the UK, she developed her musical skills at Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, Poland. After that, with generous support of the Weingarten Trust, she studied at the renowned Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary.
Magdalena is now settled in Dubai, UAE, where her main role is being a Pianist in Residence at North London Collegiate School Dubai. She regularly performs chamber music and solo repertoire across the country. Her most recent role is the pianist and accompanist for the National Youth Orchestra and Choir.
Rob Johnston
Musical Director, National Youth Choir
Robert studied singing at The Royal Academy of Music, London, where he gained diplomas in Singing and the Teaching of Singing, as well as a GRSM IIi honours degree in Music. He was awarded an Associate of the RAM by Sir David Lumsden in 1995 for services to the music industry.
Robert’s solo concert career has taken him all over the world, including to most of the UK’s cathedrals and major concert halls. He has prepared the Chorus for many concerts at Dubai Opera, including Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in September 2024, and he conducted the Festival Chorus, Astana Opera Symphony Orchestra and international soloists in a performance of Handel’s masterpiece, Messiah, at Dubai Opera in December 2023.
Robert has broadcast regularly on Classic FM and BBC Radio 3, including Vaughan Williams’ Hodie with the BBCSO. For television Robert’s solo recordings include filming works by Carl Orff in Munich for The South Bank Show, works by Purcell for the film England, My England. His voice is often heard on TV and Film soundtracks, including the singing voice of Daniel in BBC’s Daniel Deronda, a young monk in Brother Cadfael and several Harry Potter films. On a lighter note, Robert has also made recordings or performed live with Elton John, Sting, Dusty Springfield, Mike Oldfield, The Opera Babes, Susan Boyle, Johnny Mathis, Il Divo and Kylie Minogue!
Amira Fouad
Executive and Artistic Director
Acclaimed International Concert Pianist, Amira Fouad is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the National Youth Orchestra and the Artistic Director of ENCORE!, one of the leading performing arts companies in the UAE specialising in Classical Music and the Arts. Since her London début recital at St. Martin-in-the- Fields, Amira Fouad’s performing career has taken her on tour to North America, Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, and Africa. She has been heard at some of the world’s great concert halls such as Bösendorfer Hall in Vienna, Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto, Usher Hall in Edinburgh, The National Concert Hall in Dublin, Cairo Opera House, St. John’s Smith Square, Cadogan Hall and Wigmore Hall in London. She has performed with various orchestras internationally such as the English Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and the Cairo Symphony Orchestra.
Jonathan Barrett
Conductor
Jonathan Barrett is a multifaceted musician who has been based in Dubai since 2012. In addition to conducting the NYO, he teaches music and drama, is the music producer for the crossover group Sonore Al Andalus, and maintains a thriving private studio of theory, composition and brass lessons.
He has conducted and directed various student ensembles for over 10 years, as well as concerts with the Baylor Symphony & Waco Symphony in Texas which featured his compositions. Here in Dubai, he was formerly music director of both the Emirates Community Orchestra and the Dubai Chamber Orchestra.
Jonathan enjoys inspiring young students to explore many composers and musical artists and begin composing their own musical works. He teaches students that composing is a vehicle to develop a deeper understanding of music theory, the capability of your own instrument, and the power of music to communicate ideas and challenge our character.
His piece, Positive Spirit based on a poem by HH Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was commissioned by Al Jalila Foundation for its fifth anniversary and was performed at Dubai Opera by the World Doctors Orchestra in March, 2018. Jonathan holds degrees in Trombone Performance and Composition from Baylor University in Texas and has studied composition with many acclaimed composers including Scott McAllister, Donald Grantham, Dan Welcher, and the late Daniel Catán.
Eva Gräsbeck
Head of Strings
Eva Gräsbeck is one of the Co-Founders of the National Youth Orchestra in Dubai. She grew up in a renowned musical family, thus beginning a lifetime music journey at a very young age. Among Eva’s notable teachers were Olga Parhomenko, a student of David Oistrakh and the legendary Violin teacher Igor Bezrodny.
After successfully completing a Diploma at the Turku Conservatory & Belarus Academy; Eva pursued a Master’s degree in Violin Performance at Finland’s prestigious Sibelius Academy. Prior to accepting a permanent seat with the Finnish National Opera, Eva performed at the Royal Concertgebouw, the Great Hall of St. Petersburg and the Vitebsk Music Festival. Since moving to the UAE, Eva quickly established herself as an outstanding educator – as a Private Instructor & Head of Strings for the National Youth Orchestra in Dubai (NYO Dubai). Eva’s students were awarded top prizes, YSAYE International Music Competition ( Belgium 2019) at the BSME Young Musician of the Gulf (Bahrain 2020), Young Musician of the Year (UAE 2018-2022) and Emirates Virtuoso Competition (Dubai 2018).
Eva has been highly engaged in the UAE music scene, as a Soloist, Chamber Artist & Orchestra leader. She was appointed Concertmaster of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO-UAE) in 2019. She has led prestigious concerts with Bocelli and Hans Zimmer and performed at Expo Dubai for the Vatican and leaders of the UAE.
Jackie Hayter
Head of Winds
Jackie Hayter graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 2003 with a Undergraduate Degree in performance, continuing her studies with a Postgraduate Diploma at The Royal College of Music. Prior to this Jackie studied at Chethams School of Music in Manchester. Since leaving music college, Jackie has performed all over the World and recorded regularly with many ensembles and orchestras and established herself as a respected orchestral musician.
Jackie has enjoyed a varied and busy musical career, playing Bassoon and Contra Bassoon with many orchestras including- The Royal Opera House Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, The Urban Soul Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Concert Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and The RTE National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland to name just a few. Jackie has also played for West End shows including Carousel and The Wizard of Oz as well as many recordings including the Oscar nominated animation “This Way Up’. She has also toured the World playing principal Bassoon with Sting and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Other career highlights include performing the most memorable score of all time, with the Star Wars world tour. Wagners Parsifal at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and playing with Ben Folds Five at the Barbican centre in London.
Jackie is an accomplished teacher of all woodwind instruments and currently holds the position of Head of Woodwind at Dubai College.
Ronald Vint
Head of Percussion
Ronald Vint, the esteemed Head of Percussion at the National Youth Orchestra of Dubai. With an impressive musical journey, Ron’s experience spans from the Royal Military School of Music to the Royal Hampshire Regimental Band and then the Band of The Grenadier Guards in London.
Ron was a founder member of the Samba group Panelinha Do Samba and led many workshops for Samba music around the UK. He also contributed his talents to the UAE Armed Forces’ School of Music.
Ron currently teaches at Dubai College, JESS, NLCS and English College. He is the principal percussionist at the National Symphony Orchestra of UAE, and often performs as the drummer for Dubai Opera’s Big Band. Presently, Ron continues to teach and perform in the UAE, finding great joy in nurturing the progress of budding percussionists within the NYO. His passion for guiding young talents fuels his dedication to the Orchestra’s excellence.
Crosby Barrett
Violin/Viola Instructor, NYO (Preparatory)
Crosby Barrett has a Masters Degree in Violin Performance from Baylor University where she studied violin with Dr. Bruce Berg and Dr. Eka Gogichashvili and viola with Dr. Kathryn Steely. Mrs. Barrett’s love of pedagogy began in her first violin studio over 20 years ago. During these years she has developed her own pedagogical approach from her diverse background in Suzuki, Kodaly, and Galamian methods alongside the mentorship of her teachers Louise Rossi, Sachiko Mori, Chris and Sasha Adkins, and Amy Beth Horman.
Her project, Violin Vitamins, explores how to take advanced techniques from traditional pedagogues like Sevcik and Dounis more fun and approachable to today’s students, breaking them down into daily exercises or “vitamins” to boost musical health.
Mrs. Barrett studied Baroque and Renaissance playing and has led the chamber orchestra accompanying the Baylor Chamber Singers on their east coast tour in 2011. She was a concertmaster of the Baylor Symphony during her studies and one of the orchestra librarians during her Masters degree. She has been teaching and performing a diverse range of musical styles across the UAE since 2012. Her folk playing can be heard online on the latest single of her band Sonore Al Andalus, the song “Tres Morillas” which was recently aired on the Dubai Eye for DJ Cool Mark’s evening show. She was a guest artist for the Hans Zimmer Live Show in Dubai for the past two years, and has performed alongside international classical artists in the Middle East Orchestra’s performances in the InClassica Festival of 2023, in the Arabian Philharmonic accompanying Andrea Bocelli at Dubai Opera, and in chamber music concerts in NYU Abu Dhabi, Dubai Chamber Orchestra, Middle East Concert Artists, and her Piano Trio Osprey. More recently, Mrs. Barrett is proud to have been a founding leader of the National Youth Orchestra’s Preparatory Division where she teaches violin and viola and co-leads the Preparatory Orchestra.
Jelena Aleksijadis Bralović
Violin Instructor, NYO (Preparatory)
Jelena Aleksijadis Bralović is a distinguished violinist and violin teacher from Serbia. With a lifelong dedication to music, she has been playing the violin and piano since the age of seven. She graduated from the Music Academy in East Sarajevo and later earned a Teaching Certificate in Education from the University of East London.
Her journey as a musician has taken her across Europe, where she has participated in over 30 national and international competitions as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. After moving to Dubai in 2015, she quickly became an integral part of the city’s music scene, performing with the NSO Orchestra and the Dubai String Quartet. She has graced some of the most prestigious stages, including the Dubai Opera and Emirates Palace, and has collaborated with world-renowned artists such as Alicia Keys, Andrea Bocelli, Balqees Fathi, and Keala Settle.
Alongside her performing career, Jelena is a dedicated educator who finds great fulfillment in guiding students on their musical journeys. With over ten years of experience in Dubai’s international schools as a violin teacher, she is committed to creating engaging, structured lessons that inspire students to reach their full potential. She takes pride in organizing concerts, directing chamber ensembles, and fostering a dynamic, supportive learning environment where students gain confidence in their abilities.
Jelena joined NYO in June 2024, where she continues to shape the next generation of musicians while remaining a passionate performer. Her love for both teaching and playing keeps her deeply connected to Dubai’s thriving music community.
Catherine Davies
Director of Communications and Events
Catherine has over 25 years’ experience of working in the International Communications industry across the globe. A specialist in classical music and the arts, Catherine is skilled in digital, public relations, social media, web design, digital strategy and publishing, event management, sponsorship management, corporate outreach programmes, brand strategy, content creation and copywriting. A founder member of the National Youth Orchestra and Encore! Teams, Catherine brings her passion and focus to all our communication activities.
Catherine has previously worked with blue chip clients in London, Europe, the United States of America and the Middle East region, including The British Council, Qatar Museums Authority (QMA), Shell, The English Chamber Orchestra, Dubai Opera and Premier Farnell.
Clara Asuaje
Lower Strings Specialist
Clara began her cello studies in Argentina at Bachillerato Bellas Artes and Conservatorio Gilardo Gilardi, later pursuing Music Composition at Universidad UnQ in Buenos Aires.
She completed comprehensive Suzuki training under Dr. Tanya Carey and holds a postgraduate diploma in Education from the University of Nottingham, as well as a postgraduate certificate in Psychology and Mental Health from King’s College London.
Clara’s performance experience includes playing with the Teatro Colón, UAE National Symphony, and alongside artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Beyoncé, and Michael Bublé. She has taught music in primary education, as well as offering cello lessons to students of all levels. She currently instructs beginner to Camerata level students at NYO and manages a busy private cello studio with students of all ages as well as teaching music education and cello in schools.