The National Music Institute on Wednesday launched its seventh winter music festival where students and musicians from around the country will be trained for eight weeks in preparation for concerts.

“The National Music Institute has a good criterion; at least 50 percent of its students are street children,” said Rahil Mohammad Formuli, deputy head of vocational studies at Ministry of Education.

“I want to build a world of music for myself. I want to have a master’s degree in this respect,” said Qanbar Nawshad, a student at the institute.

Meanwhile, the head of the institute, Nasir Sarmast, said they will send a group of 35 female musicians to Europe where they will play traditional music of Afghanistan.

“They will hold concerts in Zurich, Geneva (Switzerland) and then in Germany. And later, they will return home,” he added.