RIYADH — The Music Commission announced the launch of the National Music Ensemble initiative, an initiative established to build a Saudi national musical troupe based on scientific foundations to support and empower local talents. The Music Commission CEO Mohammed Almulhim said creating a National Music Ensemble would put Saudi Arabia on the global musical map, with the ensemble representing the nation in musical events locally and internationally, with the most famous Saudi and Arab artists performing in high-level forums. The national ensemble would also be the lightning rod through which the Saudi culture would be disseminated through this medium, while opening up avenues for fusion with melding of different works. Almulhim visited the headquarters of the training program for the National Music Ensemble in Riyadh and Dammam, and met with the participants and discussed the program"s itinerary. Almulhim discussed with the participants the importance of music in making culture, and urged them to put all their efforts in learning from the theoretical and practical training required to form a professional national orchestra with high skills. The Music Commission began receiving applications to join the band last March, followed by the stage of auditions and selection of candidates in five cities: Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Al-Ahsa, and Yanbu. The training program will extend for seven months and it will include a theory and practicals within an educational program that focuses on teaching the basics of Arabic and Western musical instruments. Participants will be trained on a number of instruments, including, violin, cello, double bass, oud, qanun, flute, saxophone, bass guitar, electric guitar, keyboard notes, oriental rhythms, and drums.