LEADING Bahraini flautist Ahmed Al Ghanem will perform at St Christopher's Cathedral at 6pm today, accompanied by Jill Laping on the piano.

The concert, themed 'Music - the Language of Peace', will feature works by prominent Western, Eastern and Middle Eastern composers like Bach, Beethoven, Saint-Saens, Faure, Debussy, Yamada, Taki and Marhoon.

A highlight of the show will be a world premiere piece Samaee Ghanem composed by Mr Al Ghanem himself.

It is in Arabic form and uses a unique Arabic mode and beat.

Mr Al Ghanem studied at the Cairo Conservatory, where he started playing flute at the age of 19. He graduated from the Conservatory in 1996 and continued his study of the flute in London.

He has performed many recitals in Bahrain, other Arab countries and Europe, and took part in concerts organised by Unesco in Paris and Havana, Cuba.

Mr Al Ghanem has performed with famous musicians Marcel Khalife and Wissam Boustany and collaborated for theatre productions in Bahrain, Cairo and Switzerland.

Since 2004 he has been a member of the Bahrain International Music Festival, and in 2005 became the co-ordinator of the festival.

He is currently the head of the music department at the Culture Ministry's Directorate of Art and Culture.

Ms Laping, from Iowa, the US, is a music teacher at Ibn Khuldoon National School in Bahrain. She is a specialist in Early Childhood Music and has bachelor degrees in music from both Coe College, Iowa, and the University of Wyoming.

She is also the accompanist for the Manama Singers.

Tickets for the concert cost BD5 and can be ordered in advance through the Cathedral Office or bought at the door on the night.

For further information, call Christopher Butt on 39522547.