Refugee Choirs
About us
In 2018, European Youth Music launched an innovative project to support young refugees and asylum-seekers from across England. These young individuals were invited to participate in our European Youth Music Week, forming a choir that performed a specially composed choral piece alongside the EYMW symphony orchestra in Leicester Cathedral. This initiative, like EYMW, was driven by our commitment to fostering international friendship through high quality music making.
This project and the start of our journey was filmed and captured by Nick Blakemore for Channel Four News.
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As a result we were runners up in the 2019 National Lottery Awards. Since then, we have supported over 200 young refugees and asylum-seekers aged 16 – 26 to find new friends whilst enjoying making music.
How did it all start?
Our journey began with choral trainers in Bristol, Birmingham and Leicester who conducted rehearsals with young refugees and asylum-seekers living in England. These choir members then joined European Youth Music Week in Oakham, near Leicester. Throughout the week, they rehearsed various pieces, including a newly composed choral work, and developed new skills through music, such as improving their English. Mid-week, the choir and the orchestra came together for their first joint rehearsal. The final Leicester Cathedral performance showcased their hard work in front of friends and the local community.
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The pilot project targeted refugees and asylum seekers aged 16 to 30 from across England. This model has continued to spread nationwide, creating a network of choirs that regularly unite to form a national youth choir. In 2019, this initiative was replicated in Ede, Netherlands, involving refugees based in Germany, further expanding our mission of fostering community and friendship through music.
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We extend our deepest gratitude to all our supporters who have played a vital role in the success of the European Youth Music Refugee Choirs. Your contributions - whether through funding, providing resources, or volunteering your time - have made a profound impact on the lives of the young people we work with. Thanks to your generosity and dedication, we’ve been able to create transformative experiences through music, fostering unity and hope. We couldn’t do this without you - thank you for believing in our mission!
Our Generous Supporters
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Our Refugee Choir projects have also been supported by a wide range of individuals with particular expertise. These have included composers Chris Wilcox, Geoff Palmer and Liz Johnson and choral trainers Lizzy Cragg, Greg Smith, Jules Olsen, Jack Brookes, Emly Vivash, Richard Skilbeck and Themba Mvula. Support for our refugees has been provided by Matthias Witt, Danny Vincent, Peggy Paterson, Florian Winkler and Jeni Vine.
ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND
NATIONAL LOTTERY AWARDS FOR ALL
COVENTRY CITY COUNCIL
EX CATHEDRA
BRITANNIA HOTELS
HOLLY LODGE HIGH SCHOOL
SOLIHULL BOROUGH COUNCIL
ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS
Harnessing the Power of Music to Transform Lives
Music holds the incredible power to heal and inspire, and through the European Youth Music Refugee Choirs (EYMRC), we’ve witnessed firsthand the profound impact it has on young people. EYMRC hasn’t just transformed the lives of the choir members, but also the volunteers and young orchestra participants who have joined us on this journey.
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Join Us as a Partner
To keep this life-changing project alive, we need your support! We're seeking partners to help recruit young refugees and asylum-seekers, fund key aspects of our project, or provide venues for rehearsals and performances. If your organisation can contribute in any way, please reach out to us using the contact details below.
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Help Us Raise Vital Funds
If you know of organisations that offer funding, or if you'd like to donate directly to support our project, we'd love to hear from you. Your contribution will make a real difference.
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Volunteer with Us
EYMRC thrives because of the dedication of our volunteers. If you're passionate about making an impact, consider joining our team. We can tailor a volunteer role to suit your skills and interests.
Together, we can continue to change lives through the power of music.