Festival OverviewHaadia Galely and the Muslim Choral Ensemble of Sri Lanka (MCE) hosted the 2023 Sama International Choral Festival: a one-week music residency bringing together singers and instrumentalists from across the globe to facilitate cultural exchange, celebrate the diversity of Islamic choral traditions, and articulate their artistic vision: “to communicate the creative power of our project by taking it beyond borders, breaking the barriers of silence to unite and to raise awareness as one global family, and to respect and honor the interconnectivity and sanctity of all life without discrimination.”
In July 2023, local and international artists came together in Sri Lanka to curate a series of performances, events, and opportunities to engage international guest artists with local musicians in cultural sharing, training, and collaborative music-making. Part of this festival is the formation of the World Muslim Choral Ensemble, bringing together Muslims and non-Muslims to engage in Islamic choral traditions from around the world, breathe new life and interest in the genre, and encourage budding choral singers and instrumentalists. The Muslim Choral Ensemble of Sri Lanka hosted VOICES 21C alongside other international artists as a collaborative ensemble and peace ambassadors in this endeavor. |
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Performances and Events
All performances within our participation with Sama International Choral Festival were inspired by reflections on "the Bosom of Abraham" and visioning a space of safety, comfort, and belonging for all, drawing heavily upon many Black Freedom dreamers, pioneers, and stewards of our collective liberation.
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An Nur
An evening filled with spiritual renderings Voices 21C program: Blessed Be by Melanie Demore with reflection by member, Nicky Manlove: "The trees are our teachers - they know that we, too, have branches reaching for the sky. Each day we grow nearer to tall dreams of futures clear and bright. Our roots are deep in the earth, woven together. I drink the nourishment you have made, and you drink mine. I need you, and our needing has made us holy. Together, like the trees, we are blessed." |
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Voices for Peace
Annual inter-faith choirs and artists celebrating peace, love, and humanity in memory of the lives lost and affected by the Easter Sunday bombings of Sri Lanka in 2019 This performance featured VOICES21C alongside the following ensembles and artists: Muslim Choral Ensemble Manado State University Choir (Indonesia) Nabeel Khan (India) Alireza Shahini (Iran) Shahid Shahbaz (India) Jerusha Daryl (India) St. Joseph's Choir (Sri Lanka) Manoj Sanjeewa Voice Academy (Sri Lanka) Munisekar Shiva Dharshan Ensemble (Sri Lanka) V21C program: Levee Camp Holler Birmingham Sunday - traditional, as performed by Joan Baez, arr. V21C Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round - traditional, arr. Justice Choir Songbook Panda Chant II - Meredith Monk Bring Me All Your Dreams - Christopher Harris Yonder Come Day - Bessie Smith and the Georgia Sea Island Singers, arr V21C |
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Celebrating Sama
An evening of cross cultural collaboration to mark the closing of the inagural Sama International Choral Festival V21C program: Rock-A My Soul - Traditional Spirtual arr. Stacey V. Gibbs Dos Cuerpos - Julio Morales Until All of Us Are Free - Mark Burrows I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free - as performed by Nina Simone, arr. V21C Performed in collaboration with Manado State University Choir, Muslim Choral Ensemble of Sri Lanka, and local and international guest instrumentalists |
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