20th Anniversary of Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants

Our fifth collaboration with the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants took place at the Islington Town Hall on Monday 20th March.

As the centre turned 20 this year we wanted to celebrate this anniversary by accompanying the refugee choir in a repertoire of songs composed by the director of the orchestra and choir, Romain Malan. The lyrics, written by Sita Brahmachari, were inspired by the work of students during Art and Writing classes led by Sita and Jane Ray.

We also performed classical pieces by composers who had a connection with the theme of refugees and multiculturalism:

-Chopin 'Etude Tristesse' and Gounod 'Ave Maria' (both refugee composers)

-Handel 'Arrival of the Queen of Sheba' (German composer who migrated to London)

-Coleridge-Taylor 'Un Sonnet d'Amour' (son of African immigrants)

-Brahms 'Hungarian Dance' (inspired by Remenyi, an hungarian refugee)

-Mozart 'Rondo alla turca' (inspired by Oriental culture) with solo flute player Martina Mihulkova During the evening there was also delicious food and a chance to win exciting prizes donated by members of the local community.