Sting’s guitarist shapes heart of Kuwait’s music
Dominic Miller, best known as Sting’s guitarist, paid a four-day visit to Kuwait as part of a programme celebrating cultural relations through music. He led a series of master class workshops with teenage musicians and performed at an instrumental concert to mark the 75th anniversary of the British Council – in partnership with Kuwaiti cultural institute the Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyya.
Dominic enthralled the audience at the concert at Kuwait’s Al-Maidan Cultural Centre on 6 May, playing music from eight countries including the hit ‘Shape of my Heart’ that he co-wrote with Sting.
A wall of smiles greeted the guitarist as he took master class guitar workshops with students, their teachers and parents at Al-Maiden Cultural Centre, Kuwait English School and British School of Kuwait. Students were delighted to receive pointers on their musical technique from Dominic and leave with inspiration and signed instruments.
Dominic said: ‘Some of the questions asked were very profound and made me think about my role as a musician.’
During his visit Dominic was fascinated to learn that Arabic music has 24 notes, compared to the West's 12 and was intrigued with sound of the oud – an eleven-stringed musical instrument. Dominic tried to pick up the rhythms of Kuwait jamming with Kuwaiti oud player Fawzi Al-Lingawi and professors from the College of Basic Education. He later invited Fawzi to join him on stage at the concert on 6 May to the delight of everyone in the audience
‘The combination of British guitarist and Kuwaiti oud player was a fitting celebration for the British Council’s 75th anniversary,’ said Graham McCulloch Director of the British Council Kuwait.
‘As a cultural relations organisation we aim to build engagement and trust between people of different cultures through the exchange of knowledge and ideas. It has been wonderful to watch two musicians from completely different cultures who have just met, perform together and to communicate through music.’
Dominic was fascinated at how much there was to investigate within the music and culture of Kuwait. He left Kuwait for a busy summer schedule of appearances in America, Canada, Britain, Italy, Germany and South Korea.
Dominic Miller is one of Britain's finest musicians and best known as Sting’s guitarist – performing over one thousand concerts with Sting, including five world tours, since 1990. He has recorded over 150 albums from solo albums to collaborations with artists including Luciano Pavarotti, Bryan Adams, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Sheryl Crow, Phil Collins, Youssou N’Dour, Julia Fordham and the Pretenders.
