Our Refugee Choir has supported over 200 young refugees and asylum-seekers aged 16 – 26 through making-music.
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 and featured on Channel Four News. Following, we were runners up in the 2019 National Lottery Awards.
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.
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.
What next for the choir?
We’re excited to continue building on the success of our previous projects, and we’re currently applying for funding to launch a new initiative inspired by our 2018 program. Our goal is to collaborate once again with the EYMW orchestra, bringing together young refugees and asylum seekers to create another powerful musical experience. Over the next 18 months, we plan to run smaller choir projects across the UK, leading up to a major event that will showcase the talents and unity of these diverse groups. Your support will help us make this vision a reality, fostering international friendship and cultural exchange through music.
.jpg)
Explore the Refugee Choir (coming soon!)
Incredible Performances
We are invited on a regular basis to perform at a variety of events across the country. Before a performance we will all come together and rehearse either for a full day or over a weekend residential course. The choir has performed at Leicester Cathedral, Amnesty International’s Midlands Conference, as part of the Royal Society of Arts’ Change Stories, the Bristol Beacon and the Bristol Refugee Festival.
Celebrating a Milestone: Our Refugee Choir at Eurovision 2023
European Youth Music's Refugee Choir achieved national recognition as runners-up in the National Lottery Awards, earning a prestigious invitation to the Adelphi Hotel. Our choir was honoured to be chosen as the flagship representative for the National Lottery at Eurovision 2023, which was hosted in Liverpool, UK on behalf of Ukraine. This incredible opportunity culminated in a memorable performance alongside 1990s pop sensation and Eurovision ambassador Sonia. The event not only highlighted the choir’s talent but also underscored the power of music in bridging communities and cultures.
Performing at such a significant event showcased the choir’s journey and resilience, bringing their voices to an international stage and reflecting the core values of unity and inclusion that European Youth Music champions. This opportunity to sing alongside a Eurovision star like Sonia not only provided the choir members with an unforgettable experience but also served as a beacon of hope and inspiration for others, showing the transformative impact of music on individuals and communities alike.
Our continued partnership with initiatives like the National Lottery and events like Eurovision enables us to expand our reach and further our mission of fostering international friendship and cultural exchange through the universal language of music.
The Eurovision media coverage was a monumental success for our organisation, with the event being publicised and broadcast across hundreds of news and media outlets, both on TV and online. This unprecedented exposure made it the most widely published event in our history, significantly raising awareness of our mission and the incredible work of the European Youth Music Refugee Choir. The extensive media reach has amplified our message of unity through music and inspiring brand new audiences.
European Youth Music's Refugee Choir achieved national recognition as runners-up in the National Lottery Awards, earning a prestigious invitation to the Adelphi Hotel. Our choir was honoured to be chosen as the flagship representative for the National Lottery at Eurovision 2023, which was hosted in Liverpool, UK on behalf of Ukraine. This incredible opportunity culminated in a memorable performance alongside 1990s pop sensation and Eurovision ambassador Sonia. The event not only highlighted the choir’s talent but also underscored the power of music in bridging communities and cultures.
Performing at such a significant event showcased the choir’s journey and resilience, bringing their voices to an international stage and reflecting the core values of unity and inclusion that European Youth Music champions. This opportunity to sing alongside a Eurovision star like Sonia not only provided the choir members with an unforgettable experience but also served as a beacon of hope and inspiration for others, showing the transformative impact of music on individuals and communities alike.
Our continued partnership with initiatives like the National Lottery and events like Eurovision enables us to expand our reach and further our mission of fostering international friendship and cultural exchange through the universal language of music.
The Eurovision media coverage was a monumental success for our organisation, with the event being publicised and broadcast across hundreds of news and media outlets, both on TV and online. This unprecedented exposure made it the most widely published event in our history, significantly raising awareness of our mission and the incredible work of the European Youth Music Refugee Choir. The extensive media reach has amplified our message of unity through music and inspiring brand new audiences.
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 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 Moren, Richard Skilbeck and Themba Mvula. Support for our refugees has been provided by Matthias Witt, Danny Vincent, Peggy Paterson, Florian Winkler and Jeni Vine.
Our generous supporters
Support us
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.
Help us to 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.
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.
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.