The National Conservatory of Music is an affiliate of Birzeit University, and was established in 1993 to provide students interested in pursuing careers in music, an academic musical education that includes both theory and practice. Since its establishment, the Conservatory worked hard to build a musical institution of professional standards that as such has changed the musical life in Palestine dramatically.

Currently over 400 students are enrolled at the Conservatory, which has three branches in the West Bank and plans to develop two additional branches, one in the Gaza Strip. Upon completion of the eight-year academic program, which includes training in a classical or an Arab instrument, theory, ear training, history and appreciation of Arab and foreign music, and after passing the compulsory exams, graduates are qualified to apply to any university or academy of music of their choice. The Conservatory intends to establish a university level program that will further train graduates to become professional musicians. The Conservatory has a Scholarship program to provide assistance to talented students that are financially disadvantaged and has established the Marcel Khalife Scholarship Fund with a gift given by the renowned Lebanese musician to the Conservatory.

In addition to its academic program, the Conservatory provides lessons for amateurs and music lovers. Over the years various musical groups and choirs have been developed by talented students and teachers at the Conservatory. The Conservatory works to support the formulation of such groups and provides them the opportunity to perform during its spring and autumn musical concert series. The Conservatory also hosts workshops and conferences on music.

Largely through the work of the Conservatory, musically talented individuals and music lovers have found a place to express and develop their musical interests and the world of music has found an outlet to exhibit itself in Palestine.

Birzeit University owns important ethnographic and art collections and has placed a high priority on preserving the materials in its possession. In recent years efforts were made to promote, preserve and document these collections, especially as they represent an outstanding manifestation of Palestinian history and cultural tradition. Two permanent exhibition spaces have been allocated on campus since 1998 to display part of these collections, namely "The Ethnographic Collections Room" in the main library building and "Al-Qamariah" Art Collection Gallery in the Diana Tamari Sabbagh Center. By making the collections accessible through these exhibition spaces and other programs, the University aims to play a key role in popularizing culture and art. The idea of linking the collections with the academic programs in the University stems from a growing national awareness and a historic necessity to register and safeguard the usurped Palestinian heritage and identity. In this respect the University is initiating documentation and registration schemes for the collections and is developing a database to ensure full and proper documentation and to offer research opportunities to students and scholars from the University and the community alike. It also aims to eventually establish a specialized academic museum, which would house the collections and ensure their development and continuity.
For more information, please visit the Ethnographic Collection and Art Collections website.