Tala Badri is the Founder of the Centre for Musical Arts (CMA) and a musician, educator and cultural leader who has spent more than two decades helping to develop music education in the UAE.

Tala founded CMA in 2006 with a vision to make high-quality music education accessible to the wider community and to create an environment where students of all ages could learn, perform and develop a lifelong relationship with music.

Over the past 20 years, she has led CMA from a small music centre serving around 100 students into one of the UAE’s most established music education organisations. Today, CMA teaches students across its centres and through partnerships with 28 schools, providing structured learning pathways, ensemble and performance opportunities, examinations and programmes designed to support musicians at every stage of their development.

Under Tala’s leadership, CMA has built a diverse international faculty and developed long-standing relationships with schools, cultural organisations, government entities and international partners. Central to her approach has always been the belief that music education should extend beyond the individual lesson – giving students opportunities to perform, collaborate, build confidence and experience the wider world of music.

Alongside her work with CMA, Tala has contributed to the development of the UAE’s wider music and cultural sector through advisory, consultancy and judging roles. She is currently Director of Learning and Engagement at the UAE National Orchestra, where she is responsible for developing learning, talent development and community engagement initiatives that connect the Orchestra with communities across the country.

Her relationship with CMA continues as its Founder, remaining involved in its strategic direction and long-term development as the organisation enters its next chapter of leadership.

Throughout her career, Tala has been particularly committed to developing opportunities for young musicians, strengthening music education and creating sustainable pathways for emerging talent. Her work brings together music, education, cultural development and community engagement, with a strong belief in collaboration and in the importance of building a thriving musical ecosystem in the UAE.

At the heart of the philosophy on which she founded CMA is a simple belief: music has the power to connect people, develop confidence and creativity, and enrich both individuals and communities.