World Routes

As part of the World Routes Academy, Lucy Duran travels to the Middle East with the Iraqi musician Ilham Al Madfai and the scheme's protege Khyam Allami. They meet and record with local musicians in Damascus where Khyam was born but has not been since he was nine. Plus, travelling overland to Jordan, there's a session with some of that country's best musicians recorded in an organic vineyard on the Syrian border. Producer James Parkin BBC Radio 3's World Routes Academy scholarship is a new scheme which aims to support and inspire young world music artists by bringing them together with an internationally-renowned figure in the same field. This year, Khyam Allami will be collaborating with, and learning from, one of the biggest stars of Middle Eastern music, the Iraqi singer and guitarist Ilham Al Madfai. The project culminates in a BBC Promenade concert on 9th August at 2200. The scheme has represented a broad range of Khyam's musical projects on World Routes as well as developing various outreach and educational projects in the UK. Details of the 2011 scheme - its geographical focus and those taking part - will be announced in the Autumn.