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 Renfrewshire News
Dinosaur Day at Dobbies
Children attending Dobbies Little Seedlings Club will get the chance to travel back hundreds of millions of years to learn about prehistoric plants and talk about their favourite dinosaurs!
READ MORE
Winter Connections programme boasts success for third year
Thousands of people across Renfrewshire have benefitted from Winter Connections running for a third year.
READ MORE
Summer long celebration of the 90s and britpop launched
PubLife, a UK-wide summer celebration of the '90s will take place in over 500 pubs, including 7 in Scotland.
READ MORE
Family days out just got better with free entry for kids at Scone Palace
This summer, as school holidays get underway, families are invited to enjoy a day out at Scone Palace with their Kids Go Free promotion.
READ MORE
Scone Palace International Horse Trials
The inaugural Scone Palace International Horse Trials will take place from 21st–24th August 2025 in the stunning grounds of Scone Palace and Perth Racecourse.
READ MORE
Major donation of Scottish artworks boosts Renfrewshire civic collection
A magnificent collection of artworks has been donated to Renfrewshire's civic collection by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, in memory of her late husband, John Shaw.
READ MORE
Renfrewshire launches Summer of Fun free activity programme
The new free summer activities programme for Renfrewshire children, young people and families is now available.
READ MORE
Countdown begins: The AJ Bell Great Scottish Run returns to Glasgow in October
Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow on Sunday 5th October and they want everyone to 'Be Your Greatest'.
READ MORE
Thousands turn out to celebrate Sma Shot Day 2025
Thousands turned out to enjoy a day of fantastic live entertainment at Paisley's annual Sma' Shot Day celebrations on Saturday!
READ MORE
BTS fans take the spotlight in latest K Pop documentary heading to Vue
BTS Army: Forever We Are Young, a brand-new documentary celebrating the fans that helped catapult 21st century pop icons BTS into global stardom comes to Vue.
READ MORE
Jason Manford to play Paisley Town Hall as part of tour
Comedian, actor, singer and presenter is latest big name to announce date at venue.
READ MORE
SAY Award opens submissions for eligible albums
Scotland’s national music prize – the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – has opened submissions for 2025’s £20,000 prize.
READ MORE
Set sail for Paisley and enjoy a swashbuckling adventure on the high seas!
Ahoy there mateys! The Pirates of Paisley is this year's must visit FREE summer brick adventure!
READ MORE
Paisley Town Hall bells mark Imagination Library becoming permanent
Much loved reading programme, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Renfrewshire, celebrated becoming permanent with bell chimes.
READ MORE
Great value summer holiday activities at Dobbies Garden Centres
This summer, gather the whole family and head to Dobbies Garden Centres for a day of fun-filled activities that will keep costs down.
READ MORE
Crowds celebrate the summer at Barshaw Gala Day
Thousands turned out to celebrate summer at Barshaw Park on Saturday for Barshaw Gala Day.
READ MORE
FREE family festival at Loch Lomond Shores returns on 5th and 6th July
Summerfest, the FREE family festival at Loch Lomond Shores, is back on the 5th and 6th of July with lots of things to see and do!
READ MORE
Grab your free reusable cup!
Fancy grabbing a free reusable takeaway cup and then getting a discount on your next drink from some of our local cafes?
READ MORE
Thorn Athletic and Inchinnan Development Trust to create brand new artificial pitches in Renfrewshire
Two major community sports projects in Renfrewshire are set to benefit from a significant funding boost.
READ MORE
Earlybird tickets drive buzz for 2026 Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show
The biggest show of its kind in Scotland returns with Earlybird tickets and a give-away with headline sponsor Border Caravans!
READ MORE
July events at Dobbies Garden Centres
Check out July at Dobbies with it's Little Seedlings Club on rainforests and Grow How on pest control and healthy gardens!
READ MORE
Refurbished play park is a big success with local pupils
Pupils from Auchenlodment Primary School in Johnstone gave their refurbished play park a big thumbs up after it underwent a major upgrade earlier this year.
READ MORE
Historic Environment Scotland calls for public stories for national wellbeing exhibition
Historic Environment Scotland is calling for people across the country to connect with heritage to boost their wellbeing as a part of a national campaign, Historic Places, Breathing Spaces.
READ MORE
Clan Wrestling returns to Braehead Arena with former WWE Champions
After their first event in March, Clash of the Clans, Clan Wrestling makes its return to Braehead Arena on Saturday 6th September for its second event!
READ MORE
Renfrewshire invited to honour Armed Forces community
The Armed Forces Day flag will be raised outside Renfrewshire House on Friday in a short service to mark Armed Forces Day.
READ MORE
Works set to be undertaken to restore historic Kilbarchan Steeple buildings
Councillors have agreed a £350,000 contract to carry out repairs to the historic Kilbarchan Steeple Buildings.
READ MORE
Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2025 adds two new categories and voting deadline extended!
Scotland's hospitality industry and customers have spoken, and the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2025 has listened!
READ MORE
Young people to choose their winners as Celebrating Renfrewshire Fund voting opens
Voting has opened for this year's Celebrating Renfrewshire Fund as young people get the chance to vote for the projects they think will make the most difference in their communities.
READ MORE
Get set for summer at Barshaw Gala Day
Crowds are set to soak up the summer vibes at Barshaw Gala Day with an afternoon packed full of exciting activities for all the family!
READ MORE
25th year of Refugee Festival Scotland gets underway
Refugee Festival Scotland gets underway today, kick-starting nine days of dance performances, film screenings, visual art and photography exhibitions and community events across the country.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links