The Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra will perform in Washington DC’s Kennedy Center. “The orchestra, which was formally organized in 1959, will play on Dec. 9 at the center with the National Symphony Orchestra with music director Leonard Slatkin and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The concert – with a program still to be determined – will be free. ‘I want to put a spotlight, not just on them, but Iraqi arts and the needs of Iraqi arts . . . and encourage the building of institutions, bit by bit’.”