Voices to soar in unity for uplifting Refugee Festival Scotland performance
Voices from around the world who have made Scotland their home will be raised in celebration and unity at a special concert as part of Refugee Festival Scotland later this week.
Article Source: Refugee Festival Scotland
Last Updated: 19 June 2024 11:41
The Raising Voices concert on Saturday 22nd June at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall’s New Auditorium will be a landmark collaboration between Scottish Refugee Council, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) and three celebrated community choirs.
Capturing the festival’s spirit of bringing together people from different backgrounds in friendship and solidarity, the performance is one of the flagship events in this year’s Refugee Festival Scotland programme. It embodies the theme of this year’s festival, RISE, honouring the resilience of people who are rebuilding their lives in safety in Scotland.
Maryhill Integration Network’s Joyous Choir, the Harper African Voice choir and Ukrainian vocal choir Soloway, will each perform uplifting and moving songs from countries and cultures around the world, including Nigeria, Ukraine, South Africa and Italy.
Open to audience members of all ages, the performance will be presented by celebrated poet, co-founder of Seeds of Thought arts group and UNESCO artist-in-residence at the University of Glasgow, Tawona Sitholé. The music will be conducted and arranged by Jon Hargreaves whose impressive creative portfolio encompasses artistic directorships, conducting, executive producing, and composing and arranging for a host of orchestras and solo artists.
A teacher at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Jon has had arrangements played at the likes of the BBC Proms and Celtic Connections, and will now apply his expertise to this special Raising Voices performance.
Saturday’s concert will open with the incredible sound of the Joyous Choir. Since its inception in 2013, this musical group has been using singing to support social inclusion and improve wellbeing in a welcoming and creative space. The choir welcomes participants from diverse backgrounds, including people seeking asylum and refuge in Glasgow alongside those born and raised in the city. The group shares songs from different cultures, and explores themes such as friendship, protest, sisterhood, dreams, freedom and hope.
Next to take to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall stage will be Harper African Voice, a Christian worship choir based in Glasgow’s Harper Memorial Baptist Church. The 19-person strong choir was set up over two years ago with the aim to promote integration and grow cross-cultural relationships. The group includes people from various walks of life including asylum seekers and international students, spanning an incredible 35 nations.
The Solo Way choir will round off the afternoon’s entertainment. The group was founded in November 2022, when Bozhena Yakymenko gathered a group of Ukrainian women who had recently arrived in Glasgow to sing Christmas carols. The choir has grown steadily since and their aim is to encourage everyone to share in a message of solidarity.
Refugee Festival Scotland Manager, Mónica Laiseca said: “It is a sincere joy to be teaming up with the RSNO and diverse choirs from across Glasgow for this special event as part of Refugee Festival Scotland 2024. The concert is all about celebrating communities through song and we are delighted to be able to showcase the music of different cultures and nations as part of one completely unique performance. We would encourage families and music fans alike to join us this weekend for what is an empowering message of welcome and a celebration of Scotland as a place where everyone can thrive and come together in a hopeful and inspiring way.”
RSNO Director of Engagement Andy Stevenson said: “It’s a real privilege to return to the Scottish Refugee Festival to perform with these amazing choirs and artists. We strive to engage with the people of Scotland in every possible way and working with New Scots to invest in our shared culture is an honour. Music reaches beyond geographical and language barriers in a unique way and I can’t wait to join everyone at the Raising Voices event for an afternoon of celebrating our connections.”
Refugee Festival Scotland is produced by Scottish Refugee Council. Its largest and most diverse programme to date, which runs until Sunday 23rd June, provides an important platform to share the stories of people and communities who have settled in Scotland.
Raising Voices takes place at Glasgow Royal’ Concert Hall’s New Auditorium at 3pm on Saturday 22nd June. For more information and tickets visit www.refugeefestivalscotland.co.uk
Sponsored Links
Latest Lanarkshire News
Aldi Scottish Sport Fund offers Glasgow and West of Scotland clubs the chance to access funding
Aldi's Scottish Sport Fund 2025 has returned for its tenth year, giving local sports clubs in Glasgow and the West of Scotland the opportunity to receive a share of £50,000 in funding.
READ MORE
Amazonia appoints new education officer
Amazonia, a temperature controlled tropical indoor attraction within M&D's Scotland's Theme Park, has appointed Courtney Whiteman as an Education Officer.
READ MORE
Vue to host marvellous superhero season welcoming classic X Men films back to the big screen for 25th anniversary
Film fans, families and comic book enthusiasts are invited to rediscover the original big screen superhero team as a series of classic X-Men films return to the big screen at Vue this month.
READ MORE
Kids Fly FareFREE on new Loganair routes
Families can take advantage of Loganair's new Kids Fly Fare-FREE offer, allowing children aged 11 and under to travel without paying an airfare.
READ MORE
Waddle over for a weekend of fun at New Lanark this Bank Holiday
New Lanark is thrilled to announce the return of its most popular family event – the Duck Festival!
READ MORE
Lorraine Kelly meets the Loch Ness Monster Milker delivering Nessie Nectar across the UK
IRN-BRU XTRA has launched a custom milk float delivery service bringing limited-edition Nessie Nectar straight from the shores of Loch Ness to doors across the UK.
READ MORE
Time to get messy at M&Ds
M&D's Scotland's Theme Park is set to host Messy Play events for ASN supported families in May and June.
READ MORE
Safety and family time driving surge in adult swim lessons
Scottish adults are being encouraged to learn to swim this summer to boost water safety skills for the whole family.
READ MORE
New documentary tells the story of world record breaking Scottish brothers
A new documentary - now live on STV Player - tells the story of the Maclean Brothers and their self-confessed “piss poor” preparations the ocean adventure that lay ahead.
READ MORE
David Attenborough and Eurovision steal the spotlight at Vue venues in Scotland this month
Audiences are invited to travel the globe - both musically and visually - this May, as both David Attenborough and Eurovision head to the big screen at Vue venues across Scotland.
READ MORE
The Royal Yacht Britannia Exhibition and Retail Experience are shipshape and ready to welcome visitors
2025 marks the next chapter in The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust’s legacy with the opening of a brand-new, world-class visitor centre with exhibition and retail experience.
READ MORE
Pavilion Festival rounds off biggest event yet with Happy Mondays and STREETrave Classical
Pavilion Festival has rounded off its biggest ever event with over 16,000 music fans enjoying three days of non-stop live music and feel good vibes on Ayr’s iconic Low Green.
READ MORE
Cineworld announces first ever 4DX Family Day
For one day only, families can experience Moana, Paddington, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in immersive 4DX at all 34 Cineworld 4DX screens nationwide.
READ MORE
Brand new show Something About Lennon opens UK tour this month with Scottish dates
Celebration of the iconic late Beatle's life and music will be performed at 26 venues nationwide.
READ MORE
Celebrate Fathers Day in Style with Dobbies Sunday Lunch and Planting Experience
This June, Dobbies Garden Centres is presenting a brand-new way to celebrate Father’s Day, combining a hearty Sunday roast with a hands-on grow-your-own herb planting workshop.
READ MORE
East Kilbride film fanatic honoured at London ceremony
Martin Durning (31) of East Kilbride was presented with a Movie Munchies Award at the inaugural ODEON Extras awards in London on Wednesday 30th April.
READ MORE
Blue Light Awards Scotland to honour emergency services heroes
Nominations for the Blue Light Awards Scotland, recognising the courage, commitment and community spirit of our Blue Light Services, are now open.
READ MORE
Funding awarded to seven projects for tree planting in cities and towns across Scotland
The Urban Forestry Programme is supporting projects in urban areas to help more people experience the benefits of trees.
READ MORE
Rory McIlroy Confirmed for Genesis Scottish Open
Newly-crowned Masters Tournament champion Rory McIlroy is set to compete for a second Genesis Scottish Open title!
READ MORE
Holding Back The Years: 40 Years of Simply Red in cinemas May 15
To celebrate 40 years of legendary music, Simply Red are releasing their concert film 'Holding Back the Years: 40 Years of Simply Red, Live in Santiago' on the big screen.
READ MORE
This May bank holiday weekend sees 3 day festival take over Ayr Beach and the sun is set to shine!
Pavilion Festival 2025: From Big Top, live music to secret gigs - here's what to expect!
READ MORE
Fun for all the family at the 36th annual Scottish Game Fair
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scottish Game Fair is back for its 36th year at Scone Palace, taking place 4th - 6th July 2025.
READ MORE
Free Glorious Grass gardening workshop for children at Dobbies
Dobbies Garden Centres are welcoming children across the UK to join in on the fun this May to uncover all there is to know about grass at its free Little Seedlings Club workshop.
READ MORE
Amazonia celebrates cracking Easter arrival
Staff at Amazonia, a temperature controlled tropical indoor attraction within M&D's Scotland's Theme Park, received a special surprise with the arrival of the first ever hatched red footed tortoise.
READ MORE
New Bluey collection comes to cinemas for the May Bank Holiday
Bluey at the Cinema: Let's Play Chef Collection will be playing in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from Saturday 3rd May, just in time for the Early May Bank Holiday weekend.
READ MORE
New and exclusive Heritage Planting and Afternoon Tea experience comes to Dobbies
Dobbies Garden Centres is hosting a new hands-on planting and afternoon tea experience inspired by the RHS Chelsea Garden Show and Dobbies' 160-year heritage.
READ MORE
Stories of inspiring young women sought by charity
The Young Women’s Movement, Scotland’s national organisation for young women and girls’ leadership and rights, is seeking nominations for its tenth annual 30 Under 30 list.
READ MORE
Hat trick of nominations for M&Ds
M&D's Scotland's Theme Park has been nominated for three awards at the Scottish Entertainment & Hospitality Awards.
READ MORE
Aldi brings their famous Supermarket Sweep to East Kilbride
Aldi Scotland's Supermarket Sweep challenge is back again for another year, giving customers in East Kilbride the chance to raise funds for Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).
READ MORE
Paisley Food and Drink Festival returns next weekend with a supersized celebration
Paisley Food and Drink Festival returns on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th April for its biggest event yet with an extended site and more vendors than ever before!
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links