Saudi Music Commission Partners with Hal Leonard to Expand Music Education in the Middle East
February 19, 2025

February 19, 2025

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — The Saudi Music Commission, one of 11 sector specific commissions under the Ministry of Culture, and Hal Leonard, the world’s largest provider of sheet music and part of Muse Group, makers of the world’s popular digital music platforms, have partnered to introduce Arabic-language editions of Hal Leonard’s world-renowned method books and learning resources to expand music education in Saudi Arabia and the GCC region.

This partnership marks a significant milestone in making world-class music education resources accessible to musicians and educators across Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East. For the first time, Hal Leonard’s content and teaching methods – used by the music community worldwide – will be available in Arabic.

This initiative underscores the Music Commission’s commitment to fostering a vibrant society and nurturing the growth of the music industry in Saudi Arabia, through enhancing music education, in line with Saudi Vision 2030. By providing unprecedented access to best-in-class educational content and resources, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to empowering musicians and educators, while supporting cultural development in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

The method books and songbooks will be published by Nasher for Publishing and Distribution, a Saudi publisher that has been granted an exclusive license to translate and distribute Arabic-language editions of Hal Leonard titles throughout the world. The partnership is supported by the Saudi Literature Publishing and Translation Commission.

“We are honored to partner with the Saudi Music Commission and Nasher, and we are proud to bring our content, publishing and licensing expertise to support their mission of expanding music education in the region. Together, we look forward to inspiring the next generation of music players, learners and creators across Saudi Arabia and the Middle East”, said Mohammed Chahdi, COO and Chairman of MuseGroup. “This collaboration aligns with our global mission to make music creation and education accessible to musicians of all ages, skill levels, tastes, and backgrounds, with the ultimate vision of inspiring a world with a billion musicians”.

“We are proud to partner with Hal Leonard, and to have this opportunity to level-up the availability of best-in-class music learning materials here in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.  By making this library available in Arabic for the first time, we hope to accelerate sustainable access to music education as part of our continued commitment to culture for all. As we progress towards delivering the first wave of publications this year, we are grateful to our colleagues at Nasher and the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission for their continued support and expertise.”, comments Paul Pacifico, CEO of the Saudi Music Commission.

This collaboration sets the stage for continued growth, with plans to expand the catalog of Arabic-language content and teaching methods while introducing new tools to further support the music community in Saudi Arabia.

About the Saudi Ministry of Culture

Saudi Arabia has a vast history of arts and culture. The Ministry of Culture is developing Saudi Arabia’s cultural economy and enriching the daily lives of citizens, residents, and visitors. Overseeing eleven sector-specific commissions, the Ministry works towards the support of and preservation of a vibrant culture that is true to its past and looks to the future by cherishing heritage and unleashing new and inspiring forms of expression for all.

About the Saudi Music Commission

The Saudi Music Commission, one of the Ministry of Culture’s 11 sector-specific commissions, was launched in 2020 to oversee the development of the Kingdom’s music sector. The Commission supports the growth of the music sector and provides universal access to music education and empowers musical talent. It aims to increase the economic contribution of the music sector through job creation, sector regulation and by building world-class infrastructure. To learn more about the Music Commission, please visit their site and the commission’s page on X at @MOC_Music , and on Instagram at @music_moc

About Hal Leonard

Hal Leonard, which joined Muse Group in 2023, is the world leader in sheet music publishing and music education, enjoying a storied history of providing music learners withthe very best arrangements of popular music for over 70 years. Hal Leonard also supplies books, instruments, gear, and software to millions of educators worldwide.

About Muse Group

Muse Group is a visionary, international team of music lovers and audio obsessives, empowering millions of creatives to play, produce and compose every day. The company began life in 1998 as Ultimate Guitar, a tab sharing site that grew into the world’s most popular online musician community.

Muse Group now includes beloved products such as MuseScore, Audacity, StaffPad and more. Hal Leonard, the world leader in sheet music publishing and music education, joined Muse Group in 2023

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